Caffè Nero hires Lysa Hardy as new UK CEO: Caffe Nero has hired Lysa Hardy, formerly of Hotel Chocolat and T-Mobile, as the new chief executive of its circa 635-strong UK business. Hardy will begin her role immediately and will report to Gerry Ford, who remains as group chief executive. She will also work alongside existing managing director, Glyn House, who will remain in his position, with both overseeing the UK Caffè Nero business. Hardy joins Caffè Nero with more than two decades experience leading and growing high-profile UK retail brands, most recently as chief executive of Hotel Chocolat and previously with key roles at T-Mobile, Joules, and Holland & Barrett. Hardy’s background prior to general management was as chief marketing officer, chief commercial officer and chief customer officer in consumer goods and services businesses, and she has held several non-executive director roles. Ford said: “I’m delighted to welcome Lysa to Caffè Nero. Her experience and track record makes her a great complement to Glyn and allows us to take the UK Caffè Nero business forward in the next phase. We have considerable brand momentum in the coffee space globally and in the UK, where we continue to gain market share and have delivered record first half results.” Hardy said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Caffè Nero UK business; it’s an exciting brand that has consistently outperformed the market. This is the leading coffee brand in the premium space and Caffè Nero is well placed to have numerous opportunities and strong growth in the years ahead. I am thrilled to be working for Gerry and to be part of that journey.” In December, Caffè Nero reported record sales of £185.4m for the first half of its financial year to November 2025, reflecting overall growth of 7% versus last year with 5% like-for-like sales growth.
Propel 500 report – loyalty programmes now the main focus for hotel companies: The large global hotel companies are focusing less on owning property and more on staking a claim for the guest, reports Katherine Doggrell, Propel’s editorial advisor. Doggrell was writing in Propel 500 – 2026, the sector-leading report covering the top 500 hospitality companies in the UK. She said loyalty programmes are now the main focus for hotel companies, with Marriott, the largest of them all, controlling one with almost 230 million people. Doggrell said: “Marriott’s recent $335m purchase of CitizenM, which has been experimenting with a subscription model, suggests the company is ready to work out a model where it becomes the Netflix of hotels. Proving that it was on to something, Wyndham has launched a subscription offering room discounts and access to higher-level loyalty tiers only a few months after the deal. As we head into a new year, the battleground for hotels will be ownership not of assets, but of the guest.” The 45,000-word report includes exclusive analysis to provide a full understanding of the market's dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year.
Mark Wingett reviews the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the top 500 as size increasingly matters, while
Tim Street dissects the UK’s rapidly developing franchise market.
Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, looks at emerging growth sectors, and
Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova analyses the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market.
Propel 500 – 2026 is now available free to Premium Club subscribers. The report will be available to non-Premium Club subscribers for £595 plus VAT. 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.
Scottish hotel company reports 8% increase in turnover, acquires third property: Scottish hotel company Inverlochy Castle posted an 8% increase in turnover to £6,562,161 in the year to 31 March 2025. The company said it had benefited from the first full year of trade at the Walled Garden development at Inverlochy Castle and the addition of Knockendarroch Hotel and Restaurant in in Pitlochry in January 2025, although this has been offset with some “higher administrative expenses”. The company reported a gross profit of £3,773,223, compared with £3,134,604 in the prior year. The company also reported a loss before tax of £50,274 compared with a profit of £312,720 in the prior year. The group also manages venues including Crossbasket Castle, Greywalls, Isle of Eriska Hotel and Spa and the Glenfinnan Hotel. Knockendarroch Hotel has a two-AA rosette restaurant and 18 bedrooms, with planning for a further eight.
