The Wolseley Hospitality Group reports record revenue and Ebitda as it returns to profit: The Wolseley Hospitality Group has reported revenue increased 60.7% to a record £53,674,320 for the year ending 31 December 2022 compared with £33 … view

Confidence high amongst hospitality leaders despite ongoing cost and staffing challenges: Optimism among Britain’s hospitality leaders has risen for the third quarter in a row, the new Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Four … view

Confidence high amongst hospitality leaders despite ongoing cost and staffing challenges: Optimism among Britain’s hospitality leaders has risen for the third quarter in a row, the new Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Four … view

Pizza Hut’s future in doubt as debt crisis looms: Pizza Hut’s UK restaurant business has plunged into a debt crisis as it grapples with the fallout from soaring inflation. The US giant’s biggest British franchise, with more than 4,0 … view

Christou – no reason Pret can’t reach 1,500 sites in UK, SSP to begin rolling brand out in Asia: Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, has said there was no reason why the brand couldn’t … view

Subway agrees circa $9.5bn sale to Roark Capital: Global sandwich chain Subway has announced it has agreed a deal, believed to be valued at circa $9.5bn (£7.52bn), to be sold to US-based firm Roark Capital, which already owns restaurant … view

Pret ups loyalty play, increases Club Pret discount to 20% and launches worldwide: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, has announced an expansion of its subscription offer from 5 September that will see the discount for Club … view

Five Akhi’s wants to ‘grow as big as Fireaway’ following investment from fast-growing pizza brand’s owner: Five Akhi’s director Ravi Parmar has told Propel the business wants to “grow as big as Fireaway” following investment … view

Roark Capitals closes in on $9.6m Subway acquisition: Roark Capital, which owns restaurants Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, is nearing a deal to buy sandwich chain Subway for about $9.6bn, the Wall Street Journal has reported, and a deal … view

US doughnut brand set for UK debut later this year as it targets 25 sites here by 2026: US doughnut brand Duck Donuts is set to make its UK debut later this year ahead of wider plans to open 25 sites here by the end of 2026, Propel has le … view

Star Pubs & Bars looking to add 100 more Just Add Talent pubs by 2026: Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars is looking to add another 100 pubs to its Just Add Talent (JAT) managed operator business by 2026. It wants to increase the JAT model f … view

Michel Roux Jr to close Le Gavroche after more than 55 years: Michel Roux Jr has announced the closure of Le Gavroche at its Upper Brook Street site, in London’s Mayfair, where the restaurant has operated for more than 55 years. The res … view

Managed group sales rose 7.8% in July for tenth successive month of year-on-year growth: Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups overcame widespread challenges to record a ninth successive month of year-on-year sales growth in … view

Loungers appoints Lucy Knowles as new Cosy Club MD: Cafe bar operator Loungers has appointed Lucy Knowles as the new managing director of its Cosy Club brand. Knowles previously held the same role at London bar chain Corney & Barrow, late … view

Emilia’s Crafted Pasta founder – there is huge demand and potential for the brand: Andrew Macleod, founder of London-based Italian pasta restaurant concept Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, has told Propel there is huge demand a … view

Jamie Oliver’s restaurant and food businesses reports turnover and profit boost as they rebound from covid, pays total dividends of £6.8m: Jamie Oliver’s restaurant and food businesses have reported a boost in turnover and profit as … view

Döner Shack repositioning ‘almost complete’ and ‘already yielding great results’: Sanjeev Sanghera, founder of Berlin fast casual kebab concept Döner Shack, has “almost completed” its repositioning and it is “already yield … view

Rescue deal on table for Vinoteca: A deal to rescue wine bar, shop and restaurant concept Vinoteca is being worked on after the business filed a court notice of its intention to appoint administrators, Propel understands. The five-strong, … view

Marks – 2023 has seen a stark tail-off unlike any I have ever known, it will take us longer to get to where we want to be: Rekom UK chairman Peter Marks has told Propel that 2023 has seen a “stark tail-off unlike any I have ever known … view

Exclusive: The Everywhere Group set to launch crowdfund for more than ten new immersive experiences, projected to deliver £17m revenue in 2024: Immersive production company The Everywhere Group (TEG) is set to launch a crowdfund to help … view

Purezza aiming to raise up to £5m to expand in London and explore international growth, brings in Dishoom co-founder as NED: Vegan pizzeria Purezza has told Propel it is aiming to raise up to £5m in a new funding round to expand in Lond … view

Canadian pancake brand aiming for 25 UK sites by 2025 and eventual 100-plus estate, set to introduce dessert cafe concept: Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy has told Propel it is aiming for 25 UK sites by 2025 as it works towards an ev … view

Bavarian-based brewer and operator plans UK launch: Paulaner Franchise & Consulting, a subsidiary of Paulaner, the Bavarian brewery established in 1634 in Munich, is looking to launch its restaurant and bar concepts in the UK, Propel has … view

In my experience, developments in licensing are like buses – you hang around for ages and then several come along at once. One perfect example of this is the lat … view

Flip Out owner signs master franchise agreements in Europe and India: We Do Play, the owners of the UK’s largest adventure park operator Flip Out, has signed two new master franchisor agreements to support its international expansion st … view

EL&N seeking investment partner, plans to operate 200-plus units globally: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N, the 32-strong London-based business, is seeking an investment partner to aid its ambition to grow to 200-plus sites globally over th … view

Popeyes UK CEO – average weekly sales remain way above our expectations, taking our time with franchising: Tom Crowley, chief executive of Popeyes UK, the fast-growing quick service restaurant chicken brand, has told Propel that average … view

Papa John’s adds a further 27 sites to new UK company-owned business: Papa John’s has added a further 27 sites to its recently launched company-owned estate in the UK, bringing its total ownership to 118 restaurants, as it looks to im … view

Papa John’s CEO – we’re confident we can improve sales and profitability within our UK market: Rob Lynch, president and chief executive of Papa John’s, has said while the business knows there will be macroeconomic challenges ahead … view

Wingstop CEO – UK reports record sales week, business well-positioned for growth: Michael Skipworth, president and chief executive of Wingstop, has said the brand’s UK business has set a record sales week, and that the brand’s inter … view

Sourdough South secures first The Stable site since acquisition: Sourdough South, operator of the Three Joes concept, has secured the first site under The Stable brand since it acquired the business from Fuller’s in June 2020, Propel ha … view

Currie – Greggs working hard to offer great value, to focus expansion on transport hubs and supermarkets: Roisin Currie, chief executive of food-to-go operator Greggs, has said “inflation is cooling but it is still out there,” and t … view

Greggs H1 lfl sales up 16%: Food-on-the-go retailer Greggs has reported a 16% increase in like-for-like sales across its company-managed shop estate for the 26 weeks to 1 July 2023. Total sales for the period were £844m (H1 2022: £694.5 … view

Horler – I think there is potential to have more than 80 Ego sites across the UK, trading ahead of budget: James Horler, founder of the Mitchells & Butlers (M&B)-owned Ego brand, has told Propel he believes there is potential to have mo … view

Restaurant groups' delivery and takeaway sales return to year-on-year growth as price rises drive increase: Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups in June were 4% ahead of the same month in 2022, CGA … view