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Saturday 30th March 2024
Bill’s to launch new café bar concept off back of record sales
Bill’s to launch new café bar concept off back of record sales: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, is to launch a new café bar format in two of its existing sites, which the company believes will open the “opportunity … view
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Friday 29th March 2024
Friday Opinion
Body Text Here … view
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Friday 29th March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Body Text Here … view
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Thursday 28th March 2024
Adnams appoints first female CEO, Heartwood Collection, Jamie Oliver, Boxpark et al
Adnams appoints its first female CEO to succeed Andy Wood: Suffolk brewer and retailer Adnams has appointed chief financial officer Jenny Hanlon as its new chief executive. Hanlon, who will take up her new role following the company’s a … view
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Thursday 28th March 2024
Update: Esquires owner promotes Aiden Keegan to CEO
Esquires owner promotes Aiden Keegan to CEO, company to ‘build our UK-centric approach’ and ‘prioritise growth of franchise store network’: Cooks Coffee, the Esquires brand owner, has promoted Aiden Keegan to chief executive, effective … view
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Thursday 28th March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Haute Dolci lines up seven new locations following record-breaking sales, set to increase overseas presence in 2024: Premium dessert and gourmet burger concept Haute Dolci has told Propel it is lining up seven new locations following reco … view
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Wednesday 27th March 2024
Exclusive: RedCat to potentially exit more than a fifth of estate after strategic review
Exclusive – RedCat to potentially exit more than a fifth of estate after strategic review, forms new exec team: RedCat Pub Company, the investment vehicle founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, is to potentially exit more than a fifth of its … view
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Wednesday 27th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Shares in Revolution Bars Group fall 50% on possible restructuring: Shares in Revolution Bars Group, the operator of the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, dropped more than 50% in Tuesday’s (26 March) trading after … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2024
Papa John’s to shut 43 ‘underperforming’ UK restaurants
Papa John’s to shut 43 ‘underperforming’ UK restaurants: Papa John’s is to shut 43 restaurants across the UK, with the full list now being revealed. The business confirmed plans to axe the “underperforming” locations after launchin … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2024
Revolution Bars Group exploring all options including restructuring and sale of all or part of the business
Revolution Bars Group exploring all options including restructuring and sale of all or part of the business: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, has confirmed it is engaging with ke … view
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Tuesday 26th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Exclusive – 200 Degrees appoints advisors as it explores next stage of growth: 200 Degrees, the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, has appointed advisors to help review strategic options for the next stage of its growth, Prop … view
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Monday 25th March 2024
Sky News: Revolution Bars in secret talks about sale and mass venue closures
Sky News – Revolution Bars in secret talks about sale and mass venue closures: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, is plotting the closure of a quarter of its venues as it holds … view
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Monday 25th March 2024
Arc Inspirations secures £7m investment to accelerate UK expansion, plans to almost double estate by 2029
Arc Inspirations secures £7m investment to accelerate UK expansion, plans to almost double estate by 2029: Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, has secured a £7m investment to accelerate its expansion across the UK. The Banyan, Box an … view
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Monday 25th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Exclusive – Black Sheep Coffee raising £15m of new funding, aiming for US IPO: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee is currently raising £15m of new funding as it looks to step up its international expansion plans, while … view
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Sunday 24th March 2024
Sovereign wealth funds and family offices circle The Ivy, Whitbread pub package up for sale, Loungers
Man City owner Sheikh Mansour circles The Ivy: At least ten sovereign wealth funds and family offices registered interest when serial sector investor Richard Caring kicked off the £1bn sale of his The Ivy Collection business earlier this year … view
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Friday 22nd March 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: When the tills go down, Aah! Bistro, creating a franchise Marvel would be proud of, the glint in the Emerald Isle, embracing data – a path to success in hospitality, budgeting and forecasting tips to navigate financial uncert … view
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Friday 22nd March 2024
Update: JD Wetherspoon reports lfls up 5.8% in past seven weeks as half-year revenue almost hits £1bn
JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-like sales up 5.8% in past seven weeks as half-year revenue almost hits £1bn: JD Wetherspoon has reported sales have continued to improve as the company reported record first-half revenue of almost £1bn. … view
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Friday 22nd March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Sandwich Sandwich chairman – we hope to open ten sites in London over next two to three years: Chaker Hanna, chairman of Sandwich Sandwich, has told Propel that the business plans to open ten sites in London over the next two to three y … view
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Thursday 21st March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Japes founder – we can definitely open more than 50 locations in the UK, being an Olympic sportsman gave me the discipline and mentality to succeed in business: Japes founder Aleksandar Aleksic has told Propel the concept “can definit … view
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Wednesday 20th March 2024
Shepherd Neame says consumer demand remains robust as it reports record first-half revenue
Shepherd Neame says consumer demand remains robust as it reports record first-half revenue: South east brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame has said consumer demand has remained robust as it reported record first-half revenue. For the … view
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Wednesday 20th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Busaba CEO – we are in good shape, new site and concept set to open at Westfield Stratford: Winston Matthews, who was recently promoted to chief executive of Busaba, the ten-strong Thai chain founded by Alan Yau, has told Propel the bus … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2024
Majestic Wine in talks to buy Vagabond Wines
Majestic Wine in talks to buy Vagabond Wines: Majestic Wine is in advanced talks to buy Vagabond Wines, the Imbiba-backed wine bar business that filed notice of its intention to appoint administrators earlier this month. Sky News reported that … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2024
Update: XP Factory FY results, Diageo new chair, Michelin, big nights out research
XP Factory reports double digit FY lfl sales growth across both core brands: XP Factory, which operates the Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar brands, has reported double-digit like-for-like sales growth across both its owner-operated brand … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Former Hero Brands operations manager who helped grow GDK to 100-plus sites sees similar growth potential for Lucky B’s: Former Hero Brands group operations manager David Moffat, who helped grow German Doner Kebab (GDK) to 100-plus site … view
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Tuesday 19th March 2024
Stonegate Group hires two new MDs, Frazer Grimbleby promoted, Nick Andrews to retire
Stonegate Group hires MDs for Managed and Publican Partners businesses, Frazer Grimbleby promoted to Craft Union MD, Nick Andrews to retire: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has hired Carol Campbell as managing director of its … view
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Monday 18th March 2024
Shares in Soho House jump 20% on reports of takeover offer and chairman’s letter to shareholders
Shares in Soho House jump 20% on reports of takeover offer and chairman’s letter to shareholders: Shares in members’ club group Soho House increased 20% in early trading in the US after reports that CC Capital, the investment firm led by f … view
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Monday 18th March 2024
Update: Nightcap, Knoops, tourism spend and Nespresso
Nightcap – trading expected to remain challenging until later in 2024 but believe hospitality has seen worst of the downturn: Nightcap – owner of the Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group o … view
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Monday 18th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Soho House CEO – rebuts Glasshouse claims, to focus on growing membership over openings, to introduce Berenjak to Soho Farmhouse: Soho House has said an independent review of its accounting practices had “shown no material issues” f … view
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Saturday 16th March 2024
Exclusive: Prezzo returns to profitability as it looks to ‘create its own space in the casual dining market’
Exclusive: Prezzo returns to profitability as it looks to ‘create its own space in the casual dining market’: Dean Challenger, chief executive of Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, has told Propel that the bu … view
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Friday 15th March 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Trying not to be a jack-of-all-trades, solid strategies, enquiries this way, labour management excellence
Authors: Glynn Davis, Phil Mellows, Sarah Travell, Alastair Scott

Trying not to b … view

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Friday 15th March 2024
Soho House doubles Ebitda as it narrows losses, UK membership shoots up 46% in two years
Soho House doubles Ebitda as it narrows losses, UK membership shoots up 46% in two years: Members’ club group Soho House has reported it doubled adjusted Ebitda in 2023 as it made “significant progress” on improving profitability with lo … view
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Friday 15th March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Kebhouze targets 15-20 London sites over next four years and eventual UK estate of 40-45 stores, aiming to be a ‘new kind of kebab chain’: Kebhouze, the international kebab house brand, has told Propel it is targeting 15-20 London sit … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Update: Deliveroo reports resilient year of growth
Deliveroo reports resilient year of growth: Deliveroo has said that 2023 was a “resilient year of growth” for the business, given macroeconomic conditions, with gross profit up 13% and revenue and Gross Transaction Value (GTV) up … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Morgan – TRG leisure division integration going very well, confident Frankie & Benny’s has a place in our portfolio: Alan Morgan, chief executive of Big Table Group – the operator of Las Iguanas, Banana Tree, Café Rouge and Bella I … view
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Thursday 14th March 2024
Hospitality groups deliver 1.4% like-for-like growth in February as spending pressures continue
Hospitality groups deliver 1.4% like-for-like growth in February as spending pressures continue: Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracke … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2024
Legal Briefing

Night mayors – the answer to our nightmares? By Chris Grunert

At present, there are 24 directly elected mayors in England, with several inaugural elections planned in May that will introduce another three across the north east and East … view
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Wednesday 13th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Domino’s CEO – lunch is a growth opportunity for us, looking to enter more villages: Andrew Rennie, chief executive of Domino’s, has said the business sees the lunch daypart as a key opportunity for growth as it gears up to offer ne … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2024
Update: Domino’s FY lfl sales up 5.7%, upgrades growth targets
Domino’s FY lfl sales up 5.7%, upgrades growth targets: Domino’s has upgraded its growth targets for the UK and Ireland, targeting to have in excess of 2,000 stores by 2033, as the overall reported a 5.7% increase in like-for-like sys … view
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Tuesday 12th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Dishoom to focus on Permit Room this year: Brian Trollip, managing director of restaurant group Dishoom, has told Propel that the business will not open a site under its eponymous brand this year but focus on perfecting its new all-day ba … view
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Monday 11th March 2024
Wells & Co reports ‘significant increase’ in Ebitda to £9.5m as sales up £7m to £62.3m
Wells & Co reports ‘significant increase’ in Ebitda to £9.5m as sales up £7m to £62.3m: Bedford brewer and retailer Wells & Co has reported a “significant increase” in Ebitda as its sales shot up by £7m to £62.3m in the year to 1 … view
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Monday 11th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Caravan starts discussions on funding options, current trading ‘strong’, confirms regional launch: Laura Harper-Hinton, co-founder of Caravan, the restaurant, bar and coffee-roasting concept, has told Propel that the business has begu … view
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Friday 8th March 2024
Friday Opinion: International Women’s Day Special
Subjects: Still plenty of work to be done; is downplaying playing us down; fix the system, not the women; equality, diversity, inclusion and its importance to brewing and hospitality businesses; my nuanced relationship with notable dates; dis … view
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Friday 8th March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
D&D London – progress has been ‘encouraging’ but transformational projects currently taking place will be ‘key to our long-term success’: Simon Wilkinson, director at D&D London, which owns and operates circa 30 restaurants acro … view
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Thursday 7th March 2024
Opinion Special: A cut-and-paste Budget

A cut-and-paste Budget by Kate Nicholls

I’ve heard the chancellor say it is not governments that create dynamic economies and growth but businesses and people, a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, the Budget he … view
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Thursday 7th March 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Lebanese street food concept secures first franchise partners and aims to open more stores in 2024, targeting 20 sites in next five years: Lebanese street food concept Mayyil has secured its first domestic and international franchise part … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Sector calls Hunt’s Budget a ‘missed opportunity’
Sector calls Hunt’s Budget a ‘missed opportunity’: The sector has called chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “cut-and-paste” spring Budget a “missed opportunity” and warned it will lead to job losses and even more business closures. Among … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Kerb appoints Andrew Stones MD of its Ventures division
Kerb appoints Andrew Stones MD of its Ventures division: Kerb has appointed Andrew Stones, formerly of Imbiba and Be At One, as managing director of its Ventures division, where he will lead on the development and global growth of the group’ … view
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Wednesday 6th March 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greggs overtakes McDonald’s to become UK’s most popular breakfast spot, workers to share £17.6m bonus pot: Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, has said that the food-to-go business has overtaken McDonald’s to become the UK’ … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Exclusive: Nando’s appoints Mark Standish as new chief executive of its UK & Ireland business
Exclusive – Nando’s appoints Mark Standish as new chief executive of its UK & Ireland business: Nando’s, the peri-peri chicken chain, has appointed Mark Standish, formerly of MotoNovo Finance, as the new chief executive of its circa … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Greggs lfl sales up 8.2% in 2024 following record performance in 2023, targeting 140-160 net openings this year
Greggs lfl sales up 8.2% in 2024 as inflationary pressure ease following record performance in 2023, targeting 140-160 net openings this year: Greggs has said its like-for-like sales are up 8.2% in 2024 as “inflationary pressure are reducing … view
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Tuesday 5th March 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Exclusive – Vagabond placed on market: Vagabond, the Imbiba-backed wine bar business, has been placed on the market. Propel understands that Quantuma is advising the 12-strong business, with offers due by Thursday, 14 March. Offers are … view
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Monday 4th March 2024
CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index shows inflation slowing but challenges lie ahead
CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index shows inflation slowing but challenges lie ahead: The CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index recorded year-on-year inflation of 12.6% in January – a drop of 1.2 percentage points from December's rate of 13. … view
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Monday 4th March 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Itsu – there is a lot of the country we are not in, seeing growth across all aspects of business: Greg Thorp, chief financial officer at Itsu, has told Propel the business is seeing growth across all aspects of the business, that there … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Kids ain’t what they used to be, beyond the bucket: KFC’s commitment to improving nutrition, pricing pressures: navigating the minimum wage hike in hospitality leadership
Authors: Phil Mellows, Jo Tivers, Karen … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Exclusive: Papa John’s to shut 50 UK company-owned stores
Exclusive – Papa John’s to shut 50 UK company-owned stores: Papa John’s has revealed it is to shut 50 of its UK company-owned restaurants in the second quarter of 2024 but said it is making progress in its repositioning of the market and … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’: The Zero Carbon Forum has said the Which? Sustainable Restaurants report does not accurately assess the sector’s progress in s … view
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Friday 1st March 2024
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’
Which? Sustainable Restaurants report ‘does not accurately assess sector’s progress in sustainability’: The Zero Carbon Forum has said the Which? Sustainable Restaurants report does not accurately assess the sector’s progress in s … view
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