Starbucks beats revenue and profit estimates: Starbucks beat analyst sales and profit estimates yesterday, driven by new stores, digital ordering and delivery in China, and cold drinks in the United States. Total net revenue for the world … view

Yum! Brands reports KFC UK sales up 6% in third quarter and 14% year to date following last year's delivery saga: Yum! Brands has reported KFC system sales in the UK rose 6% for the third quarter ended 30 September 2019, compared with the … view

Pubs, bars and restaurants remain optimistic despite recruitment and retention concerns: The majority (90%) of pubs, bars and restaurants remain optimistic about their future despite challenges surrounding staff recruitment and retention, … view

GBK rent-to-sales ratio down to 9.5% following CVA, change of managing director: Famous Brands has revealed the rent-to-sales ratio at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) has fallen from 17.5% to 9.5% following its company voluntary arrangement … view

Gourmet Burger Kitchen reports like-for like sales up 8.6%: Famous Brands has reported its Gourmet Burger Kitchen business saw like-for-like sales increase by 8.6% in the six months to 31 August. The company stated: “In line with manage … view

Watch House Coffee secures investment for growth: London-based speciality coffee concept Watch House Coffee is set for further expansion in the capital after securing £2.1m of new investment, Propel has learned. The initial investment wa … view

Like many towns up and down the country, Do … view

The Times – Fortress frontrunner in buying Marston’s package: The Times has reported that The New York-based investment company that acquired Majestic Wine in August wants to invest in the pub sector. The newspaper stated: “Fortress … view

Comptoir Libanais founder – high rents still hampering opening opportunities: Comptoir Libanais founder Tony Kitous has told Propel that despite there being plenty of empty units in prime locations he finds attractive for his Lebanese c … view

C&C Group reports revenue and operating profit boost: Tennent’s and Magners producer C&C Group has reported revenue up 13.5% to 874.9m euros in the six months ended 31 August 2019. Operating profit rose by 9.2% to 63.8m euros. Stephen G … view

Fuller’s boss – Cotswold Inns & Hotels deal gives us ‘critical mass’ in untapped part of England: Simon Emeny, chief executive of premium pubs and hotels business Fuller’s, has told Propel its £40m deal for Cotswold Inns & Hote … view

Chipotle reports like-for-likes up 11%, shifts property strategy to drive-thrus: Chipotle has reported like-for-like sales rose 11% in its Third Quarter, with total sales up 14.6% to $1.4bn. It opened 25 sites and closed one. Digital sale … view

McDonald’s UK delivery surges in popularity to account for more than 10% of all business: Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said the group’s ongoing growth had been particularly driven by a surge in the popula … view

Admiral Taverns completes acquisition of 150 Star Pubs & Bars sites: Tenanted operator Admiral Taverns has completed the acquisition of 150 tenanted community pubs from Star Pubs & Bars. The company stated: “The acquisition of the natio … view

BrewDog to offer mini-bond that partly pays lenders in beer, signs India bar deal: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog is to issue a new mini-bond that will pay lenders partly in beer. The company will launch the offer on crowdfunding pl … view

Just Eat reports revenue growth of 25% in most recent three months: Just Eat has reported revenue growth of 25% to £247.5m in the three months to 30 September. Revenue growth in the first nine months of the company’s financial year has … view

Caring takes stake in Time Out Group: Richard Caring, the serial sector investor, has built up a stake of just under 7% in the listed global media and leisure business Time Out Group. An announcement by the company late on Friday (18 Octo … view

On a vi … view

Luke Johnson to net circa £12.5m in Elegant Hotels sale: Sector investor Luke Johnson is set to receive around £12.5m after the board of Elegant Hotels, the operator of seven freehold hotels sites in Barbados, accepted a takeover offer … view

Tapas Revolution appoints new management team as managing director departs: Tapas Revolution, the Mobeus Equity Partners-backed group, has shaken up its management team with a number of appointments, Propel has learned. It is understood p … view

UKHospitality names best late-night operators: UKHospitality has announced the winners of the 2019 Dusk ’til Dawn Late Night Awards, held in association with Propel. The winners were announced at a gala ceremony at the Troxy, London, la … view

Black Sheep Coffee set to pay another £1.4m for cafes as administrators’ report reveals Taylor St Baristas’ plight: London-based speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee is due to pay another £1.4m on top of … view

Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 5.4%: Loungers, the operator of 157 neighbourhood cafe-bar restaurants that trade under the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, has reported like-for-like sales grew 5.4% for the 24 weeks ending 6 October … view

D&D London in legals on two new UK sites, waiting on Brexit outcome before shaping long-term expansion strategy: Des Gunewardena, chairman and chief executive of restaurant operator D&D London, has told Propel the company is in legals on … view

Wrapchic collapsed into administration after shareholders refused to lend further funds as franchisee liabilities resulted in continued losses: Fusion fast food business Wrapchic collapsed into administration after shareholders refused to … view

Managed pubs and restaurants see like-for-likes up 1.2% in September despite worst month for retail since 1995: Like-for-like sales at Britain’s managed pubs and restaurants grew 1.2% last month despite the retail sector reporting its w … view

When En … view

Chick-fil-A opens debut UK site: Chick-fil-A, the largest chicken, and the third largest US fast food restaurant chain, has opened its debut UK site in Reading. The company, which operates more than 2,300 restaurants across 47 States, ope … view

Firezza and Santa Maria founders partner to launch pizza pub concept in east London: Firezza founder Edin Basic is joining forces with Santa Maria founders Angelo Ambrosio and Pasquale Chionchio to launch a pizza pub concept, Propel has l … view

Blanket calorie cap proposed for out-of-home sector in childhood obesity report, UKHospitality deems measure ‘impractical and unfair’: A calorie cap per serving of food and drink sold by the out-of-home sector has been proposed by pro … view

Papa John’s UK sees first FY like-for-like sales decline in 12 years, operating profit takes hit as it help franchisees with rising costs: Papa John’s UK, the country’s third-largest pizza delivery company, has reported like-for lik … view

McDonald’s UK pre-tax profit jumps £65m as it converts managed sites to franchises: McDonald’s UK has reported UK pre-tax profit rose £65m to £406.2m in the year to 31 December 2018 as it converts its managed estate to franchises. … view

People and Training Conference opens for bookings: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has launched this year’s People and Training Conference, which will showcase outstanding people culture among companies in the sector. The even … view

Exclusive – Fuller’s in advanced talks over £40m deal for Cotswold-based inns and hotels business: Fuller’s, the Simon Emeny-led listed group, is in advanced talks to acquire the Cotswolds Inns & Hotels business in a deal believed … view

Thai Leisure Group creditors approve CVA: Thai Leisure Group, operator of Thaikhun and Chaophraya, has had its proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved by creditors at a meeting today (Friday, 4 October). The company proposed … view

Takin … view

BrewDog reports double-digit like-for-like growth in bars business in 2019, full-year UK turnover nears £35m: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has seen double-digit like-for-like growth across its bar division so far in 2019, Propel … view

Thai Leisure Group lays out details of refresh and investment strategy if CVA successful: Thai Leisure Group, operator of Thaikhun and Chaophraya, has laid out details of a rebranding exercise and refresh programme if its proposed company … view

Revolution Bars Group moves from ten to five-year investment cycle as it steps up refurbishment programme: Revolution Bars Group chief executive Rob Pitcher has told Propel the company has moved from a ten-year to a five-year investment c … view

Revolution Bar Group reports like-for-like sales moving in positive direction: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 77 premium bars, trading under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has reported like-for-like sales were down … view

IRC closes London-based Gino D’Acampo sites to focus on regional openings: Individual Restaurants Company (IRC) has closed its two Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant sites in London to concentrate on further regional openings for the brand, … view