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Friday 29th March 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Game changer, let data steady your ship, how not to handle a complaint, and unlocking the UK’s towns and cities
Authors: Martin Wolstencroft, Victoria Searl, Paul Chase and Dan Davies

G … view

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Friday 29th March 2019
Simon Wilkinson named Byron CEO
Simon Wilkinson named Byron CEO: Simon Wilkinson, the former Cafe Rouge managing director and La Tasca chief executive, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Byron, the Three Hills Capital-backed burger chain. He has recently been a … view
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Friday 29th March 2019
Fuller’s re-jigs executive roles after the sale of its beer division
Fuller’s re-jigs executive roles after the sale of its beer division: Fuller’s has announced changes in senior positions in the wake of sale of beer division to Asahi for £250m. Simon Dodd, Jonathan Swaine and Richard Fuller will ste … view
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Friday 29th March 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Vinoteca to review options: Vinoteca, the London-based wine bar, restaurant and retail concept, has appointed advisors as its looks to secure funding for its next stage of growth, Propel has learned. The company, which was founded by Bret … view
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Thursday 28th March 2019
Update: Time Out Markets, Fulham Shore and Adnams
Time Out Group to open five North America food market this year: Time Out is to open five new Time Out Markets in North America this year. Locations will be Miami (opening in Q2), New York (Q2), Boston (Q2), Chicago (Q3), as well as Time … view
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Thursday 28th March 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Capdesia leads the way on Wasabi: London-based private equity firm Capdesia, which was founded in 2017 by Christopher Unrath and Niels Lorijn, formerly of US private debt firm CapitalSpring, is leading the way to acquire a stake in sushi … view
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Wednesday 27th March 2019
Exclusive – former Jamie’s Italian chief executive Simon Blagden to launch chicken concept
Exclusive – former Jamie’s Italian chief executive Simon Blagden to launch chicken concept: Simon Blagden, who was one of the driving forces behind the launch and success of Jamie’s Italian, has reunited with Jules Hunt, former executive … view
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Wednesday 27th March 2019
Update: Foodstars, Giles Thorley and Rohit Chugh
Former Uber boss buys UK ‘dark kitchens’ business: The food delivery company run by Travis Kalanick acquired London ‘dark kitchens’ company Foodstars last year, as the former Uber boss looks to expand his new venture in the UK, th … view
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Wednesday 27th March 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Brighton Pier Group – we’re receiving site offers every day: Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackord has told Propel the company is receiving site offers “every day”. Ackord said the company was looking at several location … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2019
CGA – consumers’ changing tastes prompt growth in Thai and American restaurants, managed numbers in decline
CGA – consumers’ changing tastes prompt growth in Thai and American restaurants, managed  numbers in decline: The number of Thai, American, Mexican and Japanese managed restaurants has soared during the past five years, while Chinese and … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2019
Leigh Nicholson resigns as managing director of Eclectic Bars
Leigh Nicholson resigns as managing director of Eclectic Bars: Brighton Pier Group has announced that Leigh Nicolson, managing director of the Bars division (Eclectic Bars), has resigned and is standing down from the board. He will leave … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2019
McDonald’s buys “decision technology” expert Dynamic Yield
McDonald’s buys “decision technology” expert Dynamic Yield: McDonald’s is to acquire Dynamic Yield, a leader in personalisation and decision logic technology. With this acquisition of Dynamic Yield, based in New York and Tel Aviv, … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
TLC Inns targets up to £3.5m for new experiential leisure brand as it converts three Grand Central sites: TLC Inns, the award-winning pub and restaurant company owned by Jo and Steve Haslam, is to diversify into experiential leisure and … view
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Monday 25th March 2019
Sourced Market appoints Scott Macdonald as MD, Café De Pierre takes Debenhams’ Pat Val concessions
Sourced Market appoints Scott Macdonald as MD ahead of expansion push: Sourced Market, the hybrid deli and dining brand, has appointed Scott Macdonald as managing director as it looks to double in size during the next year. Macdonald was … view
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Monday 25th March 2019
Update: AB InBev, Domino’s, Greene King and Rowbots
AB InBev unveils Budweiser Brewing Group as new UK name: Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I has been revealed as the new name for AB InBev in the UK, as the company reaffirms its commitment to UK & Ireland with a new President, Paula Lindenberg … view
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Monday 25th March 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Mr & Mrs Smith co-founder seeks investment for premium delivery concept: Andrew Grahame, the co-founder of Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique hotels specialist, is seeking to raise £1m through an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) to back The … view
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Saturday 23rd March 2019
Hakkasan reduces losses by more than $100m as it streamlines portfolio, UK turnover rises 6%
Hakkasan reduces losses by more than $100m as it streamlines portfolio, UK turnover rises 6%, no payments to directors: UK-based restaurant and nightclub company Hakkasan Group has reported pre-tax losses reduced by more than $100m follow … view
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Friday 22nd March 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Top five trends affecting restaurant investment, the value of learning, information overload, support through employment, and out of the mouths
Authors: James Hacon, Jill Whittaker, Ann Elliott, Brigid Simmonds and … view
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Friday 22nd March 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
GDK signs franchise deals to launch more than 100 sites in Saudi Arabia and the US: German Doner Kebab (GDK) has signed a franchise deal to open 100 stores in Saudi Arabia in the next ten years, while it has also struck a separate partner … view
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Thursday 21st March 2019
Creditors approve Ed’s and Giraffe CVA
Creditors approve Ed’s and Giraffe CVA: Creditors of Giraffe Concepts, the operator of the Ed’s Easy Diner and Giraffe restaurant brands, have approved its proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA). Will Wright, restructuring partner at … view
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Thursday 21st March 2019
TRG Concessions partners with Russel Joffe to launch California-inspired concept
TRG Concessions partners with Russel Joffe to launch California-inspired concept: The Restaurant Group (TRG) Concessions has partnered with Giraffe founder Russel Joffe to launch casual dining concept Sonoma. The table service concept, ba … view
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Thursday 21st March 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Junkyard Golf reviews its options: Crazy golf operator Junkyard Golf has appointed advisors to review options for its next stage of growth, which could include a sale of the five-strong business, Propel has learned. It is understood the c … view
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Thursday 21st March 2019
BrewBroker to launch in US, nominations open for 2019 Operations Managers Awards
BrewBroker to launch in US: BrewBroker, an online market place for the global brewing industry, is set to launch its platform in the US. BrewBroker, which currently works with 400-plus traders in Britain and Europe, will begin rolling out … view
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Wednesday 20th March 2019
Update: Tasty and Ten Entertainment Group results, new CFO at Ivy Collection
Tasty focuses on restructuring business and improving profitability, no new sites in 2019: Wildwood operator Tasty has said it does not intend to open any restaurants in 2019 as it continues to focus on restructuring the business and imp … view
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Wednesday 20th March 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
PPL’s new SFE tariff to ‘cost sector £49m’: Music licensing company PPL’s new specially featured entertainment (SFE) tariff, which comes into effect on 1 July, could be the final straw for the UK’s hard-pressed music venues, tr … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2019
Update: Bruce Pubs eyes rapid growth, Applegreen's plans for Welcome Break
Bruce Pubs eyes rapid growth on back of £20m bond offer: Edinburgh-based Bruce Pubs is targeting acquisitions across the Central Belt on the back on a £20m bond offer. The company, which owns 19 pubs and live music venues in the capital … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Leon pilots deposit return scheme, set for Switzerland debut: Natural fast food brand Leon has teamed up with recycling specialist Veolia to trial a deposit return scheme near King’s Cross station in London. The initiative features a ne … view
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Monday 18th March 2019
Patisserie Valerie administrators face legal challenge, Fuller's appoints new FD
Patisserie Valerie administrators face legal challenge over fraud report: Patisserie Valerie shareholders are threatening to take the collapsed chain’s administrators KPMG to court to get hold of a report alleged to show how the company … view
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Monday 18th March 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Average spend on late-night out increases 15.5% to almost £70 while frequency and duration also rise: The average spend on a late-night out increased 15.5% to £68.68, according to the latest Deltic Night Index, compared with £59.49 for … view
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Monday 18th March 2019
Average spend on late-night out up 15.5%, Crussh opens debut Sodexo site
Average spend on late-night out up 15.5% to almost £70 while frequency and duration also rise: The average spend on a late-night out increased 15.5% to £68.68, according to the latest Deltic Night Index, compared with £59.49 for the sa … view
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Saturday 16th March 2019
JD Wetherspoon results briefing, black hole in Patisserie Valerie's accounts as much as £94m
Propel reports on JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin’s comments following yesterday’s (Friday, 15 March) interim results:
 
Current trading: Like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 10 March 2019 were up 9.6 … view
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Friday 15th March 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Accessibility makes good business sense, junk food jingos, what it says on the tin, and making sustainability count 
Authors: Nick Varney, Paul Chase, Elton Mouna and Helen McMillan

Acce … view

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Friday 15th March 2019
JD Wetherspoon, TRG and Wagamama results, Ei Group disposal
Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes up 6.3%, profits down: JD Wetherspoon has reported revenue rose 7.1% to £889.6m (2018: £830.4m) in the 26 weeks to 27 January. Like-for-like sales rose 6.3%. Profit before tax dropped 10.5% to £48.6m … view
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Friday 15th March 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Eataly to operate new £250m food and leisure attraction near Harrogate: Eataly, the largest Italian food hall chain in the world, is to operate a £250m food and leisure attraction that is set to be built near Harrogate in Yorkshire. Dev … view
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Thursday 14th March 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Zizzi ends Sainsbury’s in-store concession as supermarket customers remain in ‘grocery mode’: Azzurri Group-owned Zizzi has ended its partnership with Sainsbury’s in which it piloted an in-store concession. The company launched th … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2019
Costa trials delivery, Gail's appoints new MD and secures 50th site
Costa Coffee trials delivery with Deliveroo: Costa Coffee, now owned by Coca-Cola, is trialling a delivery service in partnership with Deliveroo. Handcrafted coffee, selected menu items and bundle offers are available for delivery from si … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2019
Update: Everyman Group, Eagle Eye
Everyman Group becomes fifth largest UK cinema operator with 26 sites: Cinema company Everyman Media Group has reported revenue for the 53 weeks ended 3 January 2019 was up 27.7% on last year to £51,880,000 (2017: £40,620,000). The grou … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
JD Wetherspoon to put 16 pubs on the market: JD Wetherspoon is to put 16 pubs on the market, Propel has learned. The sites will all be available on an individual basis and marketed through joint agents Savills and CBRE. The pubs are The B … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2019
Domino’s Pizza UK – ‘we can resolve current differences with franchisees’
Domino’s Pizza UK – ‘we can resolve current differences with franchisees’: Domino’s Pizza UK has reported group system sales of £1,259.5m, up 9.0% on a 52 week basis – and insisted that it can resolve tensions with franchisee … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Teddy Sagi weighs up Supper bid: Billionaire Teddy Sagi, who owns Camden Market in north London, is looking at a potential route into the delivery arena with an outright purchase or substantial investment in premium London delivery servic … view
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Monday 11th March 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Sector like-for-likes up 0.3% in February but restaurants continue to struggle: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase 0.3% in February compared with last year, with pubs trading strongly … view
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Monday 11th March 2019
Sector like-for-likes up 0.3% in February but restaurants continue to struggle
Sector like-for-likes up 0.3% in February but restaurants continue to struggle: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase 0.3% in February compared with last year, with pubs trading strongly … view
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Friday 8th March 2019
Polpo gets approval for CVA
Polpo gets approval for CVA: Polpo, the holding company behind restaurant brands Polpo and Spuntino, has had its restructuring proposals under a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved after receiving 98% support. Managing director R … view
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Friday 8th March 2019
Friday Opinion
Propel Friday Opinion Takeover – for International Women’s Day 2019

Introduction by Laura Harper-Hinton

Today is International Women’s Day 2019. A day in which we celeb … view
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Friday 8th March 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Deliveroo ramps up own ‘virtual’ brands: Deliveroo has gone live with a bunch of its own “virtual” brands in its Editions site in Crouch End, north London, Propel has learned. It is thought to be the first time the delivery firm h … view
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Thursday 7th March 2019
Update: Greggs results, Patisserie Valerie, C&C Group trading
Greggs reports profit jump as turnover passes £1bn for first time: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has reported pre-tax profit, excluding exceptional items, was up to £89.8m for the year ending 29 December 2018, compared with £81.8m the pre … view
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Thursday 7th March 2019
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Gaucho administrators distribute £11.5m but secured creditor faces £37.5m shortfall: Gaucho’s administrators have so far raised and distributed £11.5m to its secured creditor to date but it faces a shortfall of up to £37.5m, a new r … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2019
Exclusive – Veeno acquired out of administration
Exclusive – Veeno acquired out of administration: Italian wine cafe Veeno has been bought out of administration by Rodrigue Trouillet, who joined the business as its new partner in November, Propel can exclusively reveal. Veeno appointed Jul … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2019
Giraffe & Ed’s experienced “consistent decline in profitability”
Giraffe & Ed’s experienced “consistent decline in profitability”: Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner, the Boparan Restaurant Group-owned brands, which are set to undergo a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), have been experiencing a con … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2019
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Grind targeting 36 sites by 2022, reveals six new central London venues: Grind, the independent coffee and cocktail bar, is looking to grow to 36 sites by 2022 through a mixture of equity raised from its forthcoming crowdfunding campaign, … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2019
Incipio Group secures £5m to open six sites including first outside London
Incipio Group secures £5m to open six sites including first outside London: Incipio Group has received £5m from entertainment and leisure investor Edition Capital to open six sites in the next 18 months, including its first outside London. L … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2019
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Ian Banks departs We Are Bar as Simon Vardigans takes full control and brings in Enhanced Hospitality: Ian Banks has left his position as chief executive of We Are Bar Group after chairman Simon Vardigans took full control of the company, … view
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Monday 4th March 2019
Steve Richards to step down as CDG chief executive
Steve Richards to step down as CDG chief executive: Casual Dining Group (CDG), the operator of circa 290 mid-market restaurant brands including Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge, has announced chief executive Steve Richards will le … view
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Monday 4th March 2019
Exclusive: Ed’s and Giraffe to undergo CVA
Exclusive: Ed’s and Giraffe to undergo CVA: Ed’s Easy Diner and Giraffe, the two Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG)-owned brands, are set to undergo a restructure that could see about 20% of their combined 87 sites close, Propel has learned. L … view
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Monday 4th March 2019
Propel Monday News Briefing
Honest Burgers breaks £30m turnover mark with like-for-likes up 7.9%: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed chain, has passed through the £30m-turnover mark in its latest set of accounts, Propel has learned. The group saw an increa … view
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Friday 1st March 2019
Revolution boss talks about turnaround plan, Whitbread management changes
Revolution boss – next 12 to 18 months about focusing ‘all efforts’ on turning core brand around: Revolution Bars Group chief executive Rob Pitcher has told Propel he expects it be 12 to 18 months before the company returns to the e … view
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Friday 1st March 2019
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Vegan state, alcophobia and the politics of drinking, an open goal and to boldly go
Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase, Michael Penfold and Simon Iddon

Vegan state by Glynn Davis

F … view
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Friday 1st March 2019
Revolution halts new openings programme, former Patisserie Valerie boss to sue new owner
Revolution Bars Group reports like-for-likes down 7.3% post-Christmas, new site opening programme halted: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 79 premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands has … view
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Friday 1st March 2019
Propel Friday News Briefing
Grind returns to Crowdcube as it eyes £2.7m for next stage of expansion: Grind, the independent coffee and cocktail bar, is returning to crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to fund its next stage of expansion. Propel understands Grind is aim … view
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