Raising Cane’s founder – ‘we are investing in the UK in a big way, it is all about having a craveable product’: Todd Graves, founder and owner of Raising Cane’s, the third-largest chicken brand in the US by sales, has told Propel that the brand is “investing in the UK in a big way” and the “demand we've seen for Cane's gives us confidence in our expansion plans”. Last week, the company confirmed it was to enter the UK market late next year. Propel revealed at the start of July that Raising Cane’s, which specialises in chicken fingers and operates more than 900 sites, the majority in the US, was in talks to secure a flagship site in London’s Piccadilly. Raising Cane’s confirmed it will open on the former Angus Steakhouse site at 21-22 Coventry Street. The site, which is thought to have been on the market for circa £1.4m, is set to open in 2026 as the first of several restaurants planned in London. Propel understands the brand is also in talks on the former Halifax site in The Strand, a site in Brixton and a further site in Paddington. The Louisiana-based company, which was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge by Graves and Craig Silvey, is understood to be working with property advisory firm Etch on its plans for the UK and is thought to have already also looked at potential sites in Manchester and Birmingham, and at possible drive-thru locations. Graves told Propel: “The demand we've seen for Cane's gives us confidence in this expansion and we're really excited to bring Cane's to the UK beginning late 2026 with the opening of our UK flagship in the West End, with several locations to follow shortly after. I've always had a vision to open restaurants all over the world and our UK expansion is a major milestone in that growth. While it's too early to say how many restaurants we'll have long-term, we're investing in the UK in a big way and expect to create 700 jobs within our first year and establish a London support office, for which we're looking for a president of Raising Cane's UK to lead.” When asked if the brand will explore franchising here, Graves, who named the business after his labrador retriever, told Propel: “All of our UK restaurants will be company-owned and operated.” On how the brand will stand out in an increasingly competitive market in the UK, he told Propel: “It's all about having a craveable product. I opened the first Raising Cane's 29 years ago and to this day, we haven't changed a single thing on the menu. We're focused on serving one love – craveable chicken finger meals – that consist of chicken fingers, Cane's sauce, buttery toast, coleslaw and crinkle-cut fries. Quality is incredibly important to us, which is why you'll never find heat lamps or holding cabinets in our restaurants. Each box combo is made to order. We hand-bread our chicken fingers, make our Cane's sauce and coleslaw fresh each morning, hand-squeeze the lemons for our lemonade and more.” 

Gail’s co-founder and CEO Tom Molnar to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Tom Molnar, co-founder and chief executive of the fast-growing Gail’s, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Molnar will talk about the hard-won lessons from scaling a craft bakery into a nationwide success without sacrificing quality or creativity. He will also discuss the leadership principles that have helped the business – which came top in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker with the strongest growth in the UK over the past three years – thrive as it celebrates its 20th year. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 5 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

Premium Club subscribers to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club subscribers will receive two updated databases this week. They will receive the next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database on Wednesday (10 September), featuring 14 new entries, while four brands no longer trading in the UK have been removed. This brings the total number of featured companies to 370, with more than 213,000 words of content. Among the new additions are Ambala Foods, a leading manufacturer and retailer of Asian sweets; Bristol creperie Chez Marcel; US international ice cream parlour brand Cold Stone Creamery; South Korean coffee house company Compose Coffee; and Crispy Dosa, whose restaurants specialise in south Indian cuisine. The next Turnover & Profits Blue Book will then be sent on Friday (12 September), at 12pm. The database will feature 72 updated accounts and 12 new companies, taking the total to 1,163. A total of 738 companies are making a profit while 425 are making a loss. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Uber warns Illegal migrant crackdown risks pushing up takeaway prices: A Home Office crackdown on illegal “gig economy” workers could push up the cost of delivering takeaways, Uber has said. The Telegraph reported that Uber, which operates the Uber Eats take-out app, warned its delivery expenses could rise in response to new rules intended to “clamp down on illegal working”. Uber’s UK division said it “welcomed” a Home Office effort to dissuade migrants and people smugglers from risking trips on small boats across the Channel to Britain. However, it warned “new legislative requirements could have an adverse impact on our business, including expenses necessary to comply with such laws and regulations”. Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have all voluntarily introduced “right to work” checks on their apps over the past year, including enhanced facial recognition and document checks. They have kicked thousands of workers who failed checks off of their apps. However, in July, the Home Office warned there “continues to be abuse in the system” and secured commitment from the companies they would go further to spot misuse and suspend accounts. In its accounts for its UK business, which includes its ride-hailing and Uber Eats division, Uber said its revenue had climbed from £5.3bn in 2023 to £6.5bn last year. However, its profit dropped from £29.4m to £21.6m. Uber blamed the fall on an “increase in administrative expenses” in its food delivery division.

Turkey availability set to be ‘most challenging ever experienced’ this Christmas with prices at ‘unseen record levels’: Turkey availability is set to be the “most challenging ever experienced” this Christmas, with prices at “unseen record levels”, according to analysis from catering butcher Birtwistle’s. Its latest report said UK slaughter numbers are down 30% year on year and warned operators to be prepared for difficulties come November and December. “Availability in the run up to this year’s festive season is set to be the most challenging ever experienced in terms of prices, which are at unseen record levels,” it said. “These continue to rise weekly, and we are only just into September. EU turkey prices are already at record levels for this time of the year, with prices far surpassing where they were last Christmas. Be prepared for November and December. This will be even more difficult as many have printed and priced Christmas menus with very little thought or contact with the butcher regarding availability until now, causing the annual mad scramble for prices and product to commence too late.” Elsewhere, the combination of strong demand and limited availability is keeping the poultry market tight, with prices trending upward. However, while 1,000 more tonnes of pig meat was produced in July than in June, pig meat production was 3% lower year on year, and it was the only month in 2025 so far to record a decline. British finished cattle prices continue to be buoyant across most categories and regions, and the overall average steer price rose by nearly 2p on the week to stand at 640p/kg. Overall, heifers averaged 637p/kg (up 1p). Lamb carcase weights averaged 19.8kg in July, 0.7kg lighter than June (down 3%) as new season lambs came to dominate the kill.

Petros Stathis – ‘I believe the best barometer of any city’s health and wealth is the hospitality sector’: Investor and vice-chairman of Admo Lifestyle Holdings, Petros Stathis, has said he believes the “best barometer of any city’s health and wealth is the hospitality sector” as his company gears up to open two new restaurants in London. Stathis told The Telegraph: “I believe the best barometer of any city’s health and wealth is the hospitality sector, the industry I first decided to invest in long ago. Here the numbers are undeniable. London saw almost 300 high-class eateries open in 2024, up from 253 in 2023, and 234 in 2022. So, it was an easy decision, as the British say, to ‘put my money where my mouth is’. Through AlphaMind, a partnership of Admo – a joint venture with Dubai’s Alpha Dhabi group and my own investment company Monterock – I’ve been betting on London. We have invested in Soho’s celebrity hangout Sucre, Knightsbridge’s rooftop Japanese eatery Clap, and the Lebanese brasserie Em Sherif. Later this year we’re taking even faster steps forward, moving beyond investing in already operational establishments, and instead bringing new brands to London. This year, opening on the top of Paddington Basin’s iconic Renzo Piano building will be the city’s first Ce La Vi: the rooftop bar, club, and restaurant that started on the Marina Bay Sands Towers in Singapore before branching out to Tokyo, Taipei and Dubai. Next year we’ll be opening the doors to London’s first Nammos – the lifestyle beach restaurant founded in Mykonos in the 1960s, whose first ‘overseas’ branch in Dubai has become the highest-earning restaurant in the world. And who will come to these new establishments? As the saying goes: ‘London is a roost for every bird.’ That’s not some faux modern political philosophy, but a quote from the most conservative of 19th-century British prime ministers, Benjamin Disraeli. He was born in Bloomsbury, a true Londoner of Italian-Jewish and Spanish heritage. And it’s a fact of this city, as it was then, that it will always be a place where the world meets, eats, works, and sleeps.”

Wahaca co-founder – ‘our wage bill’s gone up by £1.4m annually since April’: Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Mexican restaurant business Wahaca, has said the 14-strong company’s wage bill has gone up by £1.4m annually since April. She told The Telegraph: “We’re really busy – but the hospitality industry’s facing a difficult time, especially with national insurance contributions. Our wage bill’s gone up by £1.4m annually since April. Our free-range chicken supplier went out of business this year when those national insurance contributions kicked in. A lot of small businesses we work with are under pressure. People love eating out in this country. I wish we could get politicians thinking, with hospitality and food and culture: ‘This is the stuff that makes our country great.” Last month, Wahaca reported the year to 30 June 2024 saw a rise in turnover to £40,480,000 (2023: £39,718,000) with a profit before tax of £725,000 compared with a loss of £720,000 the year before. Wahaca reported an adjusted operating profit of £2.4m (2023: £3.1m), which does not include a £3.4m insurance pay-our linked to business interruption during covid. Co-founder Mark Selby told Propel: “We are 100% looking for more sites for Wahaca off the back of our success with Paddington, which opened in April 2024 and has growing like-for-like sales pretty much every week.”

Water shortages threaten Universal Studios theme park in Bedford: Universal Studios’ plans to build Europe’s biggest theme park in Bedfordshire could be scuppered by Britain’s antiquated water system. The Sunday Times reported the US entertainment company will have to overcome a plethora of issues to complete its project, and is even facing local demands to limit fast-food sales and share car park revenue from the site. The park, which is expected to create 28,000 jobs and pump £50bn into the UK economy, could increase Bedford’s daily demand for water by up to 50% after its scheduled opening in 2031. However, Anglian Water, the local utility operator, may struggle to meet this demand in time. The company needs to upgrade its water and waste infrastructure, including possibly doubling the size of Bedford’s sewage treatment works. But it fears the UK’s “broken regulatory model” will hold it back. Local authorities in Bedfordshire have also raised concerns about traffic. They estimate Universal could make up to £73,185 a day, or £27m a year, from car parking charges and want the company to contribute 10% of this to fund local transport infrastructure. Central Bedfordshire Council, which is broadly supportive of the development plans, has made a series of recommendations, including a call for the park not to advertise fast food. For the health and well-being of the local area, the authority has also proposed that there should be “fresh food kiosks” and “calorie-labelling of menus and portion size guides”. The council also fears a wave of “Airbnb-style holiday let accommodation” will drive up rental prices. It has suggested the park owner should help local authorities to develop affordable housing. A Universal spokesman said the company was “excited about our transformative development and is working closely with numerous stakeholders to ensure our efforts are complementary to and supportive of the long-term vision and vitality of this region”.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing foodservice business that is seeking an operations director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for leading and developing the operations across warehousing, logistics, supply chain, and customer service. The operations director will ensure the business operates efficiently, safely, and profitably, while driving continuous improvement and delivering exceptional service. This is a pivotal leadership role within the senior management team, with the opportunity to shape the future of the operations and contribute to the long-term growth of the business.” The salary is up to £120,000 and the role is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com

Bill’s MD – ‘this summer has been a milestone moment, delivery has become a powerful growth channel’: Tom James, managing director of Bill’s, has said this summer has been a “milestone moment” for the Richard Caring-backed business, as it delivered a “standout performance” with “standout growth” through delivery. The company said delivery sales and a landmark family-focused marketing campaign drove growth and brand engagement across its 47-strong estate. Since the April launch of its partnership with Deliveroo, Bill’s said it has traded at more than double budget expectations in delivery sales. It said demand remained strong even during the quieter summer weeks, with delivery providing a “complementary revenue stream to dine-in”, and dinner emerging as the most popular daypart. Alongside delivery, Bill’s said it continued to outperform the casual dining market throughout July and August. The company said: “A key driver of summer performance was the annual Kids Eat Free (KEF) campaign, which achieved its best results to date. The six-week initiative generated 18% of total sales, with revenue up 17% year-on-year and covers up 7% year on year throughout the campaign period. For the first time, Bill’s brought KEF to life with a fully integrated kids marketing campaign. Families were introduced to The Bill’s Bunch through four limited-edition illustrated kids’ books and collectible stickers, designed exclusively for the campaign. This was supported by a strong digital-first push, including Bill’s first YouTube TV advert, as well as digital display, paid social and pay-per-click activity, creating a dynamic moment across both restaurants and digital platforms.” James said: “This summer has been a milestone moment for Bill’s. We’ve seen delivery become a powerful growth channel while also engaging families in new and creative ways through our KEF campaign. The combination of strong sales, digital innovation and guest-focused storytelling has given us great momentum and confidence for the future.” The brand is to make its return to Leicester next Monday (15 September), three years after leaving the city. The business is again set to operate a site at the Highcross shopping scheme, in Shires Lane. James spoke to Charlotte Kemp, managing director of Sixty Eight People, at last week’s Propel’s Multi-Club Conference about the cultural change he has led at the business, which has resulted in a doubling of Ebitda and a return to the expansion trail. All videos from the summer conference will be released to Premium members on Friday, 20 September at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Britain’s biggest Starbucks operator could switch to Costa: Britain’s biggest Starbucks operator is weighing an audacious move to jettison its sites to unlock a cut-price swoop on rival Costa Coffee. The Sunday Times reported that EG Group, owned by private equity firm TDR Capital and Blackburn forecourt tycoons Mohsin and Zuber Issa, is understood to be considering proposals to sell the franchise rights to the 140 Starbucks “drive-thru” and “drive-in” sites that it operates across the UK. EG Group must do so to allow it or TDR to bid for Costa, whose owner Coca-Cola has begun sounding out potential suitors. The investment bank Lazard has been appointed to oversee the process. Starbucks’ franchise agreement strictly prohibits direct and indirect investments in, or operating on behalf of, rivals. Another alternative for EG Group is to let the agreement lapse, rather than renew it, when it expires at the end of this year. The franchise agreement, however, also prohibits EG Group from operating a rival coffee operator in these sites for a further 12 months — in other words, until the end of 2026. TDR has yet to confirm its interest in Costa. City sources cautioned the private equity firm could be using it as a negotiating tactic to secure a more favourable agreement with Starbucks during renewal talks. TDR declined to comment.

Piper – guest behaviour at Flat Iron is more akin to a QSR brand than a full-service restaurant and that’s why it will succeed internationally: Piper, the private equity firm, which has recently exited Flat Iron, has said guest behaviour at the affordable steak concept is more akin to a quick service restaurant (QSR) brand than a full-service restaurant and this is why it believes the business “will succeed not only in the UK, but internationally”. Last month, Propel revealed McWin Capital Partners – the backer of Gail’s, Big Mamma and Sticks’n’ Sushi – and TriSpan – the backer of Pho, Mowgli and Rosa’s Thai – had partnered to make a co-control majority investment in Flat Iron, which was founded by Charlie Carroll in 2012 as a pop-up above the Owl & Pussycat pub in Shoreditch, east London. Flat Iron has grown to 18 restaurants across London, Manchester, Leeds and Cambridge, with further openings lined up in Brighton and Bristol. Piper made a £10m significant minority investment in the then four-strong Flat Iron in 2017. The private equity firm, which currently backs Yard Sale Pizza, said: “In March 2017, we were lucky enough to partner with Charlie and his team. Since then, Flat Iron has grown to 15 restaurants in London, as well as Manchester, Leeds, and Cambridge, with sales increasing 6.6 times and Ebitda 5.9 times across the period. Despite its modest footprint, half of Londoners know the business, a testament to its strength and loyal following. The magic of Flat Iron lies in its strong guiding mission and obsessive attention to detail. The core proposition – one hero product done exceptionally well – hasn't wavered. As a result, any mention of coffee or sit-down pudding has been drowned out. Even as specials have been introduced, 70% of sales still come from the Flat Iron steak. In a challenging market, Flat Iron stands out. Double-digit like-for-likes, a guest net promoter score of 78 and a 50% repeat visits rate (six in ten diners aged 25 to 34 have visited more than six times). Guest behaviour is more akin to a QSR brand than a full-service restaurant. This is why we believe it will succeed not only in the UK, but internationally. Charlie always said the 20th restaurant should be better than the first. We've seen the 18th, and we can certainly attest to this. Flat Iron continues to serve remarkable steak to everyone, always with the warmth of an old friend. We feel privileged to remain one.”

Domino’s franchisee acquires 14 further sites, plans 75-strong estate: Strava Group, the German Doner Kebab and Costa Coffee franchisee, is set to increase its Domino’s Pizza franchise presence in Scotland with the acquisition of 14 additional stores across the country. The acquisition, which was funded by NatWest, brings the total number of Domino’s Pizza stores operated by Strava Group to circa 40 sites, spanning both England and Scotland. This strategic move is part of the company’s growth strategy to operate 75 Domino’s sites. Rickey Sharma, managing director of Strava Group, started his journey as a franchisee in 2012 with Domino’s Pizza after progressing through the ranks since 2007. The acquisition is “expected to enhance the operational efficiency and market reach of Strava Group, positioning it well for future growth”. The company said: “As Strava continues to focus on expanding its Domino’s portfolio ,it is committed to maintaining the high standards of service and quality that have become synonymous with the brand.” Sharma said: “This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Strava Group. NatWest, and its expertise in investments and understanding of our industry, made this latest acquisition possible and we are excited for what this means for the expansion of the business moving forward. My journey with Domino’s Pizza began more than a decade ago, and now through the acquisition of these stores I’m able to give other young people a start in their career.”

Starbucks – new design features leading to greater dwell time and visit frequency: Starbucks has said that when it comes to the early results from its revamped coffee houses, customers are staying longer, visiting more often, and sharing positive feedback. In July, Starbucks unveiled its new coffee house design, with a long-term goal to renovate up to 1,000 sites within the next year. The design – which has been debuted in several locations in New York and southern California – features cosier seating options, warmer lighting, more power outlets and locally inspired art. There’s also a menu that “reflects the classic coffee house experience” and an updated espresso bar so guests can view the theatre of baristas making beverages. For mobile orders, there’s an improved pick-up experience, with new risers and shelves to make it easier to grab and go. The company said early results from the uplifted coffee houses are already showing promise. Starbucks said the transformation goes beyond design — “it is about shaping the future of gathering spaces, strengthening community ties and creating places people love”. Dawn Clark, Starbucks senior vice-president of coffee house design and concepts, said after the first coffee houses were redesigned in New York earlier this year as part of a pilot, she and her team took time to sit in them and think about how these intimate spaces could become a part of the experience for every coffee house. She said: “We sat in each store and asked ourselves: ‘What could we keep? What’s great about this? What’s the history of this place? What is this community like?’ At that point it felt like we had a whole new approach to design, which was much more rooted in our heritage and will create an experience that is more richly sensorial.” 

Blank Street Coffee launches brand redesign to signal next phase of growth: US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022, has launched a major rebrand to signal the next phase of its growth – “from a beloved coffee and matcha chain to global lifestyle brand”. The company, which operates circa 45 sites in the UK, said the new identity is rooted in the brand's purpose to “add a spark to the ordinary”. Blank Street said it captures the “brand’s spirit that customers know and love”, while laying the foundation for its future. Mohammad Rabaa, global creative director at Blank Street, said: “This transformation was not about doing a 180, it was about becoming more ourselves. Our brand is built on tensions: function and form, utility and indulgence, sophistication and playfulness, and you'll see these explored more critically through this new brand identity. This evolution takes the best parts of Blank Street and doubles down, creating a more cohesive brand experience that feels both exciting and familiar. In the months ahead, you'll start to see our new brand come to life across the Blank Street world. We can't wait to share it with you.” The new design included an updated logo and symbol that carves out a literal blank space, “or 'window' as a visual cue for imagination and possibility”, and a refined 'Blank Street Green' – a “lush, unmistakable green hue and is now accompanied by an extensive, secondary palette of greens aptly named after times of day, a nod to the different colours a Blank Street cup takes on in morning, afternoon, and evening light”. The company began rolling out the updated identity at the start of this month. 

Love Churros launches first motorway services site: Urban dessert experience Love Churros has launched its first motorway services site, in partnership with Roadchef. Love Churros, founded in 2015 by former professional footballer Jake Nicholson, has opened at Roadchef’s Strensham South services at Junction 8 on the M5 southbound. Nicholson said: “Been a really good experience launching the brand at Roadchef Strensham southbound to a new audience on the move.” The outlet is a 12th UK site for Love Churros, with three within McArthurGlen Designer Outlet centres – in Bridgend, Alfreton and Cannock. Love Churros has further shopping centre locations at Festival Place in Basingstoke, Lakeside in Essex, Victoria in Nottingham, Westfield in Stratford and Harlequin in Watford, as well as Boxpark sites in Wembley, Shoreditch and Croydon. Love Churros also has three overseas locations in Bahrain.

Portobello Pubs & Bars reopens two flagship sites: Portobello Pubs & Bars, which is backed by private equity firm Zetland Capital, has reopened two of its flagship freehold Brighton pubs after major refurbishment schemes. The Walrus has been redecorated with the addition of the Carpenter's cocktail lounge on the first floor. The company said: “The bar gets its name from the poem as told by Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee to Alice in Through The Looking Glass where the Walrus and the Carpenter tricked and ate oysters. The poem's author, Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), had links to Brighton. The famous Walrus roof terrace also has increased its capacity following access changes.” Meanwhile, the company’s Lion & Lobster site in the city has also received a full makeover including its own roof terrace and first-floor restaurant area. Portobello chairman Mark Crowther said: “With the continued support of Portobello's major shareholder, Zetland Capital, it is exciting to reopen these two famous Brighton pubs. The team is now working on plans for further investments in Portobello's London pubs and bars estate” The company said the capital schemes come at a time of continued positive trading with the group “continuing to outperform the market”. Portobello is led by managing director Richard Stringer and chief financial officer Mayuri Vachhani.

Valiant Pub Company acquires Bedfordshire pub with rooms: Valiant Pub Company, which was founded by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty at the start of 2021, has added a Bedfordshire site with rooms to its circa 90-strong portfolio of community pubs. The business has acquired The Coach House in Potton, an 18th-century coaching inn with 11 letting rooms. Under Valiant’s ownership, The Coach House will continue to trade “just as guests know and love”, while at the same time, the company said it will be making “thoughtful investments to ensure it remains a true community hub for years to come”. Andy Parker, managing director of operations at Valiant Pub Company, said: “We’re excited to be acquiring The Coach House. Our focus is to support the team in doing what it already does so well, while looking to the future and investing where it will make the biggest difference for our guests and the local community.” The company said: “This acquisition reflects Valiant’s ongoing commitment to championing pubs with strong community roots, keeping them thriving through genuine hospitality and careful investment.” Last month, Valiant Pub Company secured a further £14m in debt financing. The funds, provided by Metro Bank, will help support the pub company’s growth plans. In February, Carroll told Propel the group’s plan was to get to “200-300 pubs eventually”, and had noticed a spike in opportunities to acquire sites from independent operators post the Budget.

Wingstop UK promotes Faye Ryder-Humphries to people director: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has promoted Faye Ryder-Humphries to people director. The company, which currently operates 72 sites with more than 3,000 employees, said since joining Wingstop UK in April 2022, Ryder-Humphries has played a “pivotal role in strengthening the brand’s people strategy during its continued rapid UK expansion”. Ryder-Humphries joined Wingstop in spring 2022 as a people partner before being promoted to head of people at the end of the same year. She previously spent just over two years at the EG Group as a HR business partner. Wingstop UK said: “Overseeing a dedicated people team of 19, under Faye’s leadership, thousands of people have started, developed and grown their careers at Wingstop UK.” Chris Sherriff, chief executive of Wingstop UK, said: “Faye’s journey with Wingstop UK has been nothing short of inspiring. Her dedication, passion, and relentless drive to grow – both personally and professionally – have made a lasting impact on our business and our culture. This promotion to people director is a true reflection of the commitment she brings every single day, and we couldn’t be prouder to see her take on this role as we continue to grow.” Ryder-Humphries said: “It is an honour to lead the people function at Wingstop UK, I’m surrounded by an exceptional team whose passion and dedication are the very reason for our success. We continue to serve bold flavour and build meaningful connections in the communities we’re proud to be part of.”

Midlands pizza business more than doubles its footprint in eight months, on track to open ten more stores by next summer: Midlands pizza business Aladdin’s Pizza has more than doubled its footprint in the last eight months and said it is on track to open ten more stores by next summer. Aladdin’s Pizza was founded in 2012 and has ten locations, mainly around Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire. The company’s growth is being led by Roman Aslamzada, former head of franchise for dessert brand Amorino in the UK, who joined Aladdin’s Pizza as head of operations and franchising in March. “Over the last eight months, we have grown from four stores to ten stores, and with a clear vision ahead, we are on track to open another ten stores by next summer,” he said. “To support this expansion, we are in the process of moving our central warehouse to a larger unit, built to accommodate the needs of up to 100 stores. Behind the scenes, we have been making strategic operational changes to strengthen our foundation. From developing new software solutions to help with clock-ins and warehouse inventory management, to ensuring our business is fully metric-driven through our EPOS system, we are building a scalable model designed for excellence. Our numbers are stronger than ever, and our partners are sharing in the excitement as we prepare for the next chapter. The focus over the next three to six months is to finalise these enhancements, after which we will be ready to roll out our franchise model and invite others to join this journey.”

London Japanese pancake concept signs first overseas franchise partner: London Japanese pancake concept CA Japanese Pancakes has signed its first overseas franchise partner. The company was founded six years ago by Nina Siciliano and Marco Malone, launching its first site in 2020, at 324 Vauxhall Bridge Road in London’s Victoria. A second site followed earlier this year, at 195 Chiswick High Road in Chiswick, west London. Giving an update on LinkedIn, Malone said: “At CA Japanese Pancakes, we believe traction speaks louder than words. In the past year, we have achieved £1m revenue in 2024 at our Victoria branch; opened our second site in Chiswick, now ramping to £70,000 per month; reached £159,000 in revenue this August across Victoria and Chiswick (£1.9m annual run-rate); and signed our first franchise partner in Munich. Alongside this, we’ve built a community of 180,000 organic followers. Our mission: to make the world’s fluffiest pancakes accessible to everyone – gluten-free, dairy-free, and inclusive.” CA Japanese Pancakes is also offering limited franchise opportunities “in prime territories” – offering full training alongside operational and marketing support.

Cheshire operator Almond Family Pubs to invest £1.2m in new Cheadle Hulme opening: Cheshire operator Almond Family Pubs is to invest £1.2m in making over and reopening a pub in Cheadle Hulme. The company, which currently operates four sites in the region, is to reopen the Platform 5 pub as The Station House following a full refurbishment, in collaboration with Joseph Holt. Almond Family Pubs, which is run by former hotelier Doug Almond and his children James and Vicki, said: “The revamped pub will feature a new interior with a focus on high-quality finish and furnishings. The 1930s classic design evokes the glory days of rail travel with ornate décor, a bar of brass and marble with plush leather booths. The exterior promises to be unrecognisable, showing off the handsome building, including a 100-seat raised sun terrace and widened, inviting entryways. The sophisticated look will be matched by a fresh menu, and Sundays will feature an elevated plated traditional British roast choice, staying true to Almond Family Pubs’ standards of quality.” The newly renovated pub is due to reopen this autumn.

Travelodge opens 600th UK hotel featuring first rooftop 85 Bar Café: Travelodge has opened its 600th hotel in the UK. The 80-room hotel in South Parade on the seafront in Skegness, Lincolnshire, includes Travelodge’s first rooftop 85 Bar Café. Travelodge’s also has 12 hotels in Spain and three in Ireland, and more than 47,000 rooms. The company opened two hotels in the first half of 2025 and plans on opening nine more by the end of the year. Last month, Travelodge said it was looking at rolling out self-serve hotels. The company opened its first “hybrid” hotel in July, where guests don’t need to have any face-to-face contact with staff. Instead, they can check-in and get a digital room key, plus other services, through an app. It follows a fully “contactless” Travelodge that opened in St Albans, Hertfordshire, also in July. It comes as Travelodge looks to cut costs after profits nearly halved in the six months to the end of June 2025, from £82.1m to £47.3m. The company blamed a £20m surge in costs, fuelled by April’s increase in national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage and inflationary linked rent rises. Revenue over the half year fell from £486.7m to £471.3m, driven by fewer big events as well as “softer demand”, particularly in Greater London.

Real estate investment firm places £500m UK hotel portfolio on market: Vastint, the real estate investment firm, has placed a 15-strong UK hotel portfolio valued at approximately £500m on the market, following the completion of a strategic review. The portfolio comprises 15 purpose-built Marriott-branded hotels, totalling 3,230 rooms, and is operated by Vastint's in-house platform, Hotel Co 51 UK, under franchise agreements. It features the largest Moxy collection in Europe, alongside AC by Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott properties, all located in high-demand areas such as city centres, transport hubs, and major exhibition venues. JLL and KPMG UK, which have been appointed to advise on the sale, said the landmark offering stands out not only for its scale and brand strength but also for its “exceptional sustainability credentials”. Every property holds Green Key and LEED or BREEAM certifications. The advisers said: “The portfolio is coming to market at a time of growing investor appetite for operational real estate, with the UK hotel market showing strong momentum. Select service hotels, in particular, are well-positioned to benefit from rising demand across both business and leisure travel segments.”