Britvic chairman – the Office of Fair Trading is myopic: Britvic chairman Gerald Corbett has launched a scathing attack on the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to refer the proposed merger of Britvic and AG Barr to the Competition Commission. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he said: “The dominant player is by far and away the US-based Coca Cola Company, with nearly a third of the market. So when two British companies, AG Barr and Britvic, with little overlap in brands, decide to create a national soft drinks champion with the scale and strength to compete globally, it is galling to be stymied by our own Office of Fair Trading. The soft drinks category, like many consumer goods categories, is highly competitive. The retailers are powerful. The Coca Cola Company is immense. Private label is huge. It is a tough market; we fight hard for low single digit revenue growth. Consolidation and cost savings are the order of the day. The age of austerity has a meaning for consumer goods companies: rationalise, focus on the supply chain, raw material and production efficiencies. This is the language of today’s boardroom and this was the thinking that framed our merger: two medium-sized British companies combining to be stronger against Coca Cola: £40m synergies on offer, a bigger, stronger company for our employees and investors, a bigger stronger company to expand internationally. We have to get the Competition Commission to understand that a stronger British company is in the national interest. Profits and jobs in Britain are more important than those elsewhere. This would never happen in France; it should not happen in the UK. The OFT is myopic in its view that the price of Irn-Bru, which has a 5pc market share of the national carbonated soft drinks market, might rise in the face of the Coca Cola Company’s 50pc market share.” Corbett added: “We have to get the Competition Commission out of their offices and into the supermarkets and pubs of Britain. We have to get them to see the acres of choice and the power of the supermarkets; the soft drinks salesman has few cards to play as he waits nervously outside his customer’s trading director’s office. Most of all, we need them to back the two British firms trying to take on a global giant.” Britvic and AG Barr have stated that they will “each reconsider” the “terms of a possible merger” in six months’ time when the Competition Commission has completed its work but warned that there could be no certainty that a merger would go-ahead.

Visitor spend in the UK hit record levels in 2012: A record amount was spent in the UK by overseas visitors last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Foreign visitors spent £18.71bn last year, a rise of 4% on 2011. The number of trips made to the UK by visitors rose to 31.15 million in 2012 - an increase of 1%. Patricia Yates, director of strategy and communications at VisitBritain, said the country had “managed to avoid the threatened displacement in the year of the Olympic Games”. She added: “Our tourism strategy was clearly to use the showcasing of the Games and turn the millions who watched coverage of Britain into visitors in the months and years ahead. We have made an excellent start and will continue our work promoting Britain as a great place to visit to deliver further revenue and jobs in the UK through 2013.”

Yum Brands plans to double India unit count in three years: Yum Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, plans to nearly double unit count from 593 sites now to 1,000 by 2015. Niren Chaudhary, president of Yum’s India operations, said the company is counting on a new wave of growth in India propelled by favorable demographics. “By 2030, India will be the largest consuming nation in the world, ahead of the US and China,” he said. India’s young population with a median age of 28 is an attractive market feature. “The demographic dividend India has is unquestionable,” he said. Yum has been in India since the early 1990s and has a sizeable presence in big cities like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Admiral seeks ‘soft landing’ for tenants amid wholesale price rises: Community pub operator Admiral Taverns has sought to give its licensees a “soft landing” by freezing the price of a clutch of key beer and cider brands. In a departure from its peer group, Admiral has for the third year in row frozen prices on a number of key brands. This year they include: John Smiths Extra Smooth, Coors Light, Amstel, Carlsberg Export and Symonds Founders Reserve. Aside from the price freeze, Admiral has worked hard to minimise price rises for its licensees. While prices will rise on many products, the rise on Carling will be modest at just over 2%, while Worthington’s will move up 1.8% and Admiral has managed to contain average increases across all draught, packaged beer and cider products to 2.3%. Admiral, with an estate of around 1,100 tenanted and leased pubs in England and Wales, will make the changes on 4 March. The move – which comes around two months after brewers and many other pub companies lifted their prices – are set out in detail in a letter to be sent to all of its licensees. Managing director Kevin Georgel said that Admiral continued to do its best to mitigate price rises by providing an alternative for licensees against the current industry tide of wholesale price increases. He said: “We are doing our utmost to support our licensees with regards to pricing. The freezing of prices on certain products gives licensees the option of switching brands to those offering better value, and therefore an option to improve their profitability. We obviously don’t want to put prices up elsewhere and have therefore held back from making inevitable changes to pricing until March, and have worked hard to provide a soft landing by minimising increases. For the vast majority of drinks our pricing will be below what brewers themselves recommend as we feel it is important to demonstrate a commitment to licensees on pricing, which is crucial in this environment.”

Marston’s to target higher returns at new-builds in 2013: Midlands based brewer and retailer Marston’s is to target higher returns on the circa 25 new-build pub restaurants planned for 2013. Finance director Andrew Andrea told the Barclays Capital pubs conference that an Ebitda return on investment of 16.5% is planned compared to 15% in 2009. The company will spend an average of £2.5m per site (£2.3m in 2009) to target sales of £26,000 per week (£20,000 in 2009). Food mix is expected to be 60% (55% in 2009) with average food spend per head of £6.50 (circa £6 in 2009). Andrea also reported that the company’s high street brand Pitcher & Piano continues to show resilience with like-for-like sales up 6%. Andrea said its new-build opening programme had a strong pipeline of sites all the way to 2015 and the precise timing of openings is “dictated by planners”. 

Spirit – digital marketing gathering pace: Spirit chief executive Mike Tye has told the Barclays Capital pub conference that digital marketing is gathering pace at the company with 950,000 customers now on its database and website visitors up 46% so far this year. Meanwhile, Tye reported, team turnover is down over 50% since 2009 with “improved calibre” at every level of the company. Ebitda returns on investment are 25% and growing with more than 80% of the estate now invested. Within its leased estate, where one-third of pubs are in London or the south east and average net income per pub for the company is £94,000, the company has increased the percentage of pubs on substantive agreements from 84% to 91% since it took full control of the estate ten months ago in the wake of the demerger with Punch.

Greene King – the pub market has changed: Barclays Capital analyst Richard Taylor has reported that Greene King believes “the pub market has changed” away from usage where customers live and work - and that Greene King thinks customers’ need to be enticed into a specific pub for its appeal rather than just its location. Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand presented to the Barclays Capital pub conference last week and Taylor reported: “The company measures every unit every four weeks - managers are bonused on this. In terms of customer expectations, Greene King is doing well versus the peer group, although (there’s) still more to go for versus the best of breed such as a “High Street Sandwich chain” and a “Portuguese Chicken” operator, but (are) ahead of most of their pub-based competition. The company is looking at both the top end and bottom end of social spectrum – (and) believe that they need premium dining offerings and value. Greene King believes that its Hungry Horse brand is very flexible, working well on a leisure park and a former tenancy - and can also work in different areas and different sort of sites.”

Asian food chain launches restaurant and juice bar concept: Asian food chain Kebabish has opened a restaurant and juice bar concept on Wellgate, Rotherham that also incorporates a Coffee Republic bar and three function areas for bookings. Future plans include a fully refurbished banqueting suite that will host conferences, weddings and other events. The new concept has been supported by Rotherham Council through a one-off grant. Coun Gerald Smith, Rotherham Council cabinet member for regeneration and development, said: “This is another example of our grants scheme bringing a new and innovative business into the heart of the town centre.”

Sticks ‘n’ Sushi lines up second UK site: Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is lining up its second UK opening for the former Walkabout site in Covent Garden this autumn – after the successful launch of its first site in Wimbledon. The new restaurant, in line with the Wimbledon site, will have a strong Danish design ethic and will include a cocktail bar and an open kitchen. Co-Founder Kim Rahbek said: “We came to Wimbledon as an unknown with big dreams and were made very welcome by the locals. Bev Churchill, director of landlord Covent Garden London , said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Sticks ‘n’ Sushi to the neighborhood. Covent Garden is the gastronomic hub in the West End and we are confident Sticks ‘n’ Sushi will be a hugely popular draw.” Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is one of the most successful Japanese restaurant groups in Denmark with ten restaurants, founded 18 years ago by brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek. Davis Coffer Lyons advised Covent Garden London.

YO! Sushi targets ten openings in the US mid-Atlantic corridor: YO! Sushi has set a target of at least ten openings in the mid-Atlantic corridor between Washington DC an Philadelphia following the successful opening of the first site in Washington, DC’s Union Station in July 2012, Alison Vickers, business development director, has told Fast Casual magazine. “Our entry into the United States with the restaurant opening in Washington, has been extremely successful. We are thrilled with our first franchisees who are growing aggressively in the DC area. Based on their success, we are actively seeking similar franchisees to open in other urban areas. We plan for another landmark year in 2013.” The menu at YO! Sushi in the US has been tweaked, with more rolls and spice. Free refills on soft drinks and iced tea were also added to meet US consumer demands.

Alistair Darby – Mitchells & Butlers meal sales hit 130 million a year: Mitchells & Butlers chief executive Alistair Darby has reported that annual meal sales at the company have hit 130 million, with 420 million drinks sold each year. Darby, presenting to the Barclays Capital pubs conference, also reported that average weekly takings per pub have hit the £23,000 level.

Cosmo Buffet Restaurants and Tesco to take iconic former Yates’s site in Blackpool: Supermarket Tesco is to open a convenience store on the site of the iconic former Yates’s site in Blackpool - with Cosmo Buffet Restaurants taking the first floor. Yates’s was destroyed in a fire four years ago and there was speculation that TGI Fridays would open at the re-built site. The Tesco store will take the site of Yates’s famous rotunda – overlooking Talbot Square – with Cosmo on the first floor. A spokesman for developer Northhold Group said: “We are happy to confirm Cosmo Buffet Restaurants and Tesco Express are both committed to occupy space within the completed development and we are in the final stages of putting everything in place to make a start on site as soon as possible.”

Eataly to open restaurants on cruise ship: Eataly, the restaurant group whose New York site has a turnover of £80m a year and is the fourth most popular tourist destination in New York, is to open two restaurants on a cruise ship, the MSC Preziosa. Eataly will be the more casual of the two, with 80 seats and “will mirror Eataly’s original concept” at lunch and dinner. Ristorante Italia will have 24 seats and will serve “a different ultra-high-quality ‘table d’hôte’ menu every night.” The chain, which is due to open in Chicago in the autumn, has been eyeing a site in Covent Garden.

Five freeholds on the market after collapse of Powder Train: Five freehold pubs in the south of England are up for sale through agent Christie + Co after the collapse into administration of Powdertrain, the company that worked closely with chef Marco Pierre White. The five pubs are the Anchor Hotel and George Inn, both in Warminster, Wiltshire; The Chilli Pad (formerly the Jolly Miller) in North Warnborough, Hampshire; The Chequers Inn in Maresfield, East Sussex and The Handsome Pig (formerly the Kings Arms) in Fernhurst, West Sussex. The Anchor Hotel (£450,000) is a Grade II Listed former coaching inn in Warminster. Situated just outside Warminster, in the village of Longbridge Deverill, the George Inn (£895,000) dates from the 17th century. It also has a function room that accommodates 120 covers and 12 en suite letting bedrooms. The venue has extensive garden areas and a paddock. The Chilli Pad (£650,000), situated just off the M3 close to Bartley Wood Business Park, currently offers the combination of an 80-cover Thai restaurant and a skittle alley that also doubles as a function room. On the edge of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, is the Chequers Inn (£995,000). It has a 70-cover restaurant and 11 en suite letting bedrooms. The Handsome Pig (£550,000) is another 17th century Grade II Listed country inn, situated in the South Downs National Park in Fernhurst, West Sussex. The business has ceased trading. Ed Bellfield, director of Christie + Co, said: “These five freeholds are amongst the more characterful pubs or inns on the market today. All benefit from good, in some cases idyllic, surroundings and good historic trading performance. We’re already seeing strong interest expressed from many quarters and expect that interest to grow as the market becomes more aware of their availability.” The five freeholds are available as a group, in clusters or as individual assets. Begbies Traynor is the company’s administrator.

Gordon Ramsay hands over rights to Spotted Pig name in the UK: Gordon Ramsay Holdings has obtained the UK trademark for “The Spotted Pig” name and handed it over to the owner of the New York restaurant and bar of the same name, Bloomberg has reported. The application for the name caused controversy because it appeared that Gordon Ramsay was looking to hijack the name of the popular New York gastropub, which has been looking at opening a site in the UK. “We have been liaising with The Spotted Pig in New York for some months, and had arranged for the trademark to be passed to them once it was registered,” according to an e-mailed statement from Gordon Ramsay Holdings to Bloomberg. “This has now happened.” The right to use the name in the UK lasts for ten years.

Iconic Rutland Water inn comes on the market for offers over £2m: The Finch’s Arms, a ten bedroom inn located in the heart of the Hambleton Peninsula on Rutland Water, has come on the market with agent Davey & Co with an asking price of offers over £2m. The present owners, Colin and Celia Crawford, have operated the pub and hotel since 1997. Since 2006 they have undertaken a consultancy role with the day to day running of The Finch’s Arms overseen by a management team. During the past 16 years, the owners have seen turnover grow from £300,000 to more than £1.3 million. Colin said: “Celia and I have loved our time at The Finch’s Arms and are proud of its success and popularity. It has achieved a great reputation for its food and drink, as well as accommodation and we are confident that the new owner can continue its success. After 26 years in the industry we believe it is the right time to retire and look forward to passing The Finch’s Arms over to new owners.”

Young cupcake entrepreneur visits Fuller’s: Lucy Beauvallet, runner-up in the last series of Lord Sugar’s hunt for the next young entrepreneur, Young Apprentice, spent a day with the Fuller’s team this week to further her understanding of the leisure and hospitality business. Lucy, 17, who already runs her own cupcake business, was particularly interested in the retail side of the company, which operates over 380 pubs and hotels across the south of England. Jonathon Swaine, managing director of Fuller’s Inns, said: “My children were very jealous that I was going to meet Lucy, as she is something of a celebrity in our house. However, aside from that I was incredibly impressed by Lucy when I met her. She has a keen interest in our industry and a very sharp eye for business so I look forward to tracking her career closely. Who knows, we may get to work together one day.”

Clove Club restaurant and bar set to open in Shoreditch Town Hall: The Clove Club and restaurant will open at Shoreditch Town Hall on 5 March. The venue is to be run by Daniel Willis, Johnny Smith and chef Isaac McHale who operate the restaurant Upstairs at The Ten Bells, which was voted 50th Best Restaurant in the UK’s Top 100 list after only a few months of being open. The Clove Club is named after Willis and Smith’s supperclub in Dalston, which has now found a permanent home inside the Grade II listed Shoreditch Town Hall on Old Street. The restaurant and bar is part of the regeneration of the town hall building as a theatre, arts space and creative hub.

Greene King pub in Cambridge to re-open as the Brunswick Restaurant and Bar: The Bird in Hand, a Greene King tenanted pub in Cambridge that had been likely to be converted to an estate agency, will re-open in March as The Brunswick Restaurant and Bar. It will be a sister restaurant to The White Swan pub in Stow-cum-Quy. The Brunswick’s website said it will be “a new restaurant and bar in the heart of Cambridge serving modern British food, local real ales and a fine selection of wines and spirits”.

Whitbread steps up out-sourcing: Whitbread has signed a five year deal with Steria that aims to deliver a 14% reduction in annual service costs. The extension to the agreement covers outsourcing of a wide variety of business processes, including VAT, reporting, reconciliation, general ledger and accounts payable and receivable.

London pub smashes guide price – for conversion to residential: The freehold of the Whitesmith, a few minutes’ walk from Borough Market and London Bridge station, has smashed its guide price of £650,000. After a bidding war, it was snapped up for ‘significantly more’ than the guide price, with exchange taking place within 24 hours of legal documentations being issued. “The buyer intends to turn it into a residential accommodation, probably a single dwelling, subject to consent, and it will make a fantastic and very substantial home. There’s even a patio garden for balmy summer evenings,“ said agent AG&G’s Panayiotis Themistocli.

Hard Day’s Night hotel suffers fire damage: The Hard Day’s Night hotel in Liverpool has sustained damage following a blaze on its fifth floor. The luxury hotel caught fire at 1.19pm yesterday and was declared under control by 3.10pm. Located at the heart of Liverpool’s ‘Beatles Quarter’, the 110-room hotel, which features an event space, is housed in a Grade II listed building, dating back to 1884.

Dark Star Brewery founder plans microbrewery: Businessman Rob Jones, who founded Dark Star Brewery, is planning to set a microbrewery up at The Duke of Wellington pub in Shoreham. The aim is to build a microbrewery out the back of the Brighton Road pub and start creating new beers, which are likely to have the hoppy style for which he is known. Jones will take over the management of the pub when he retires from Dark Star in the next few months – a planning application for the microbrewery is expected in the next few weeks.

Domino’s to launch with a hot dog stuffed into the crust: Domino’s UK is to launch a new pizza product that has a hot dog stuffed into the crust. Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director at Domino’s Pizza, said: “We’re very excited about Domino’s Hot Dog Stuffed Crust which will be on our menus from next week. It’s a real fun concept and one we’re sure pizza lovers and hot dog fans will love.”