Group behind Chotto Matte and Angus Steakhouse unveils expansion plans as it makes leadership changes: Noble Hospitality Group – the group behind Japanese concept Chotto Matte, Angus Steakhouse, Steak and Company and Alley Cats Pizza – has made changes to its leadership team as it unveiled its roadmap for expansion. It follows a successful 2023, which saw revenue at Angus Steakhouse grow by more than 16% following its new strategy, while Steak and Company group revenue was 6.3% higher. During the year, Chotto Matte opened its San Francisco restaurant, which has been an “overwhelming success” and launched Alley Cats Pizza in London. Paul Sarlas has been promoted to chief executive of Noble Hospitality Group. With 32 years’ experience in the industry, his career includes a tenure as managing director of Chotto Matte from 2018 to 2020 and his role as managing director for Steak and Company and Angus Steakhouse since January 2023. He was also previously chief executive of Ping Pong. Olivier Flamant has been appointed global managing director of Chotto Matte, having served as chief executive of Dogus Group and leading the global Coya brand, as well as chief executive at Cool, where he played an instrumental role in shaping and elevating a portfolio of 23 international food and beverage establishments. Noble Hospitality Group said Kurt Zdesar, the founder of Chotto Matte, “will continue to play an integral role in shaping the brand's culinary vision, innovation, and strategy”. The group said Chotto Matte remains dedicated to its global growth plan, with a particular focus on international franchise openings such as Tbilisi and Riyadh. The brand will continue exploring franchising opportunities to expand its cuisine globally as well as grow its portfolio in the USA and Europe, with the next openings in Manchester and Mila. Having launched Alley Cats Pizza in London’s Marylebone in December, the concept is set to expand across the capital. The group said the “robust operational model allows for quick and efficient expansion”, and the team has already set its eyes on various locations around the capital. Having recently updated the menu at Angus Steakhouse, the brand will introduce a new design with its next new opening “to reflect the evolution of the brand”, followed by refurbishments of the current restaurants. Steak and Company has a “new chapter on the horizon”, with plans for a forthcoming restaurant that “promises to bring fresh energy and culinary delights”. The concept will continue to focus on seasonal specials and a “premium offering that is approachable to all”, introducing an elevated design to its current and upcoming restaurants. The group also revealed it is developing a new concept that will soon make its debut in London. 

Propel’s flagship event boosted by the ten new partners and sponsors: Propel’s flagship event, the four-strong Propel Multi-Club Conference series, has been boosted by the arrival of ten new partners and sponsors at the start of 2024. The four conferences, which include the Propel summer conference and party in September, attract more than 400 people each, making them the biggest conference event series in the sector. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “This event is recognised as the best quality conference series in the sector – a great chance to network with the best operators in the sector and hear about new trends. Once a sponsor signs up to take part we very rarely see them withdraw – and we have many sponsors who have been involved since this series started more than a decade ago. In the wake of the pandemic we expanded the Multi-Club Conference series to four full-day events to make it even more compelling. It attracts new sponsors largely by word-of-mouth but signing up this number of new sponsors and partners in a couple of months is remarkable.” The new sponsors and partners are: Kurve, Adnams, Feed It Back, Aviko, Meaningful Vision, Tipjar, Plastic Trees, Reynolds, Be Inclusive Hospitality and Kraft Heinz. The next event is on Thursday, 21 March. Email paul.charity@propelinfo.com if you would like to take part in the Multi-Club Conference series. 

Ten Entertainment Group shareholders approve circa £300m takeover by US firm: Shareholders of Ten Entertainment Group have approved its circa £300m takeover by US firm Trive. A total of 99.97% of shareholders voted in favour of the deal that was announced last month, which will see Ten Entertainment Group, which operates circa 50 venues, taken private after six years. The deal is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2024. Under the terms of the acquisition, Ten Entertainment Group shareholders will receive 412.5p per share in cash. The acquisition values Ten Entertainment Group entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital at approximately £287m on a fully diluted basis and implies a multiple of approximately 7.3 times Ten Entertainment Group’s group adjusted Ebitda after rental costs for the 12 months ended 2 July 2023. At the time of the announcement, Trive said it views Ten Entertainment Group “as a high-quality and leading company in the leisure and hospitality sector with an experienced management team that has a clear vision and growth strategy that Trive believes it is well positioned to support.” When Ten Entertainment Group floated, shares were valued at 165p. Ten Entertainment Group is led by Graham Blackwell, a leisure industry veteran. Its shares have risen by more than a quarter over the last 12 months amid growing post-pandemic demand for in-person leisure experiences. Ten Entertainment Group features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book. Its turnover of £126,700,000 for the year ending 1 January 2023 is the 77th highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Exclusive – The Salad Project to launch new digital ordering-only concept for fourth site: The Salad Project, the all-day dining concept that launched in London in 2021, will open a new digital ordering-only concept for its fourth site, Propel has learned. The company was launched just before the pandemic by Florian de Chezelles and James Dare, who met at the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne. Its debut site in Spitalfields was followed by locations in Old Street and Oxford Circus, and its latest site, in Watling Street in the City, will launch later this month. “Our fourth bricks and mortar location will see a brand-new version of The Salad Project called The Salad Project Spaces – a digital ordering-only, ultra-convenient version of our concept catering to our loyal City customers,” the brand’s culinary director, Clementine Haxby, told Propel. “After the launch of our app, this is the latest step in The Salad Project’s journey towards innovation that embraces technology.” In terms of future growth, Haxby said: “The response to the concept has been so overwhelmingly positive that there is absolutely no reason to stop or slow down – 2024 will be a big year for us! London is the absolute priority as Londoners like The Salad Project and so many are yet to discover the concept. But we firmly believe this nation needs and wants better access to healthy fast food, so the ambition will be to open outside the big smoke.” Unlike many operators celebrating a best Christmas in years, Haxby said the festive season is a quiet one for The Salad Project, but it nevertheless capped an “incredible” 2023. “Christmas is always our quietest month as people want mulled wine and minced pies – and who can blame them?” she said. “But overall, 2023 has been an incredible year of trade. The Salad Project is a profitable business ready for growth!” Haxby said launching just before covid was “a blessing in disguise in hindsight”, not least through being able to secure a good deal on a first unit “many could not dream of” in Spitalfields. “It took some courage, but signing the lease mid-covid continues to pay its dividends,” she said. “Furthermore, The Salad Project needed a bit of time to become an operationally well-oiled machine. The first slow months as London still worked from home gave it the operational runway it needed.” The Salad Project has also partnered with Middle Eastern vegetarian concept Bubala to offer a “Veganuary collaboration” until Sunday, 11 February.