Story of the Day - 17 October 2024
Marston’s outlines plans for five differentiated pub formats, appoints new COO
Marston’s has said it sees the opportunity for five differentiated pub formats as it looks to drive a “high-margin, highly cash-generative local pub company” with the purpose of “shared good times”. The formats are “locals”, “locals sport pub”, “adult dining pub”, “family pub” and the “two-room pub”. Outlining its strategy at its Capital Markets Day, Marston’s, which has 1,339 sites nationwide, said it would “create a balanced portfolio across consumer segments”.
Operators of multi-site hospitality companies can book up to three free places, or operators who are Premium subscribers can claim up to four free places, by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
17 October 2024
Lithuanian ‘fast lunch but not fast food’ concept sets its sights on 100 UK sites after making international debut
Lithuanian “fast lunch but not fast food” concept iLunch, which uses smart technology to “deliver lunch in less than two minutes”, has set its sights on 100 UK sites after making its international debut. Founded in 2016, iLunch has more than 30 sites in Lithuania and recently opened its first international store, in Riga, Latvia, with a second location in the country planned for next year.
17 October 2024
Deliveroo reports third-quarter UK orders rise 2% in 'more stable but still uncertain' consumer environment
Deliveroo has reported that UK orders rose 2% in the third quarter of 2024 to 39.5 million with gross transaction value (GTV) “remaining healthy”. In the UK and Ireland, GTV was £1,098m in the third quarter, up 7% year on year.
17 October 2024
Grosvenor Casinos owner reports continued trading momentum in first quarter
The Rank Group, which owns Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos, has reported its trading momentum has continued with net gaming revenue up 12% to £197.5m for the first quarter ended 30 September 2024. On a channel basis, digital net gaming revenue was up 15% to £57.9m, with growth across both the UK business, which was up 15%, and the Spanish operations, up 15%.
17 October 2024
Starbucks UK promotes Robert McCoy to oversee company-owned estate
Starbucks UK has promoted Robert McCoy (pictured) to interim managing director of its company-owned estate. McCoy, who was formerly at PizzaExpress and Waitrose, has been given the new title of director and general manager of acquisitions UK at the coffee brand.
17 October 2024
Greggs set to launch its first Champagne bar
Food to go retailer Greggs is set to launch its first Champagne bar. The venue will operate in Fenwick’s Newcastle store from Thursday, 24 October until the end of December, offering bottles ranging from a £10 glass of Ca’ di Alte Prosecco to a £75 glass of Louis Roederer Cristal – also available by the bottle for £425.
17 October 2024
South Africa-based Portuguese restaurant brand set to make UK its first international market with Leicester opening
South Africa-based Portuguese restaurant brand Calisto’s is set to make the UK its first international market with an opening in Leicester. Initially created by Jorge Calisto in 1992, who was then joined by Nicholas Binos in 2011, the brand has become a household name in South Africa, with 11 branches spread over its Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal provinces.
17 October 2024
Showcase Cinemas UK operator sees losses widen to £13m despite attendance rise as parent company prepares for takeover
Pre-tax losses have widened at the UK arm of the company behind Showcase Cinemas – whose parent is the subject of a takeover – despite an increase in attendance. NATL Amusements (UK), which also operates the Cinema De Lux brand, reported turnover increased 10% to £92,554,870 for the year to 4 January 2024 compared with £83,856,378 the year before.
17 October 2024
Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee sees turnover pass £80m and profit more than double after acquiring two new restaurants
McDonald’s franchisee Edge Restaurants, which operates 19 sites in the Greater Manchester area, saw its turnover pass £80m and profit more than double in the year to 31 December 2023 after acquiring two new restaurants. The company’s turnover for the year was £86,399,132, a 27.3% increase on the £67,869,310 in 2022, when it operated 17 restaurants.
17 October 2024
UKHospitality – sector facing £48m inflation hike to take business rates bill increase to £914m
The sector is facing an additional £48m business rates bill as rates relief ends next year, taking the overall hit to the industry in April to £914m, UKHospitality has warned. It comes after figures from the Office for National Statistics showed inflation fell to 1.7% in September.
17 October 2024
Yolk closes crowdfunding campaign after raising almost £650,000
Fast-growing “fine fast food” business Yolk has closed its crowdfunding campaign after raising almost £650,000 to help “deliver its next stage of expansion”. Last month, the business opened its eighth site in London – at Cardinal Place in Victoria – and announced its plans for a £300,000 crowdfund.
16 October 2024
Whitbread accepts offers on 51 pub restaurants for total of £56m, five-year plan will see pre-tax profit increase by at least £300m
Whitbread has accepted offers on 51 of its pub restaurant sites for a total consideration of £56m. The company said its accelerating growth plan to optimise its UK food and beverage offer “to deliver a more tailored guest proposition”, is “on track” and as a result of its five-year plan the Premier Inn operator expects to increase its adjusted profit before tax versus FY25 by at least £300m.
16 October 2024
Marston’s – updated strategy will drive a high-margin, highly cash-generative local pub company
Marston’s, the operator of 1,339 pubs, which is hosting its 2024 Capital Markets Day (CMD) today (Wednesday, 16 October), has said that its updated strategy will drive a “high-margin, highly cash-generative local pub company” based on differentiated formats, and a brand portfolio that is “naturally balanced to appeal across a range of consumer segments”.
16 October 2024
Bear – ‘2025 will be a year of really seeing what we can do as a brand’, exploring new regions
Craig Bunting, co-founder of coffee house, kitchen and bar business Bear has told Propel that “2025 will be a year of really seeing what we can do as a brand” and there is “loads on our radar”. The business, founded in 2014 by Bunting and Michael Thorley, and backed by Clark Group and founding investor Chris Price, will this week open its eighth site, in Wimborne, Dorset.
October 2024 ~ Premium Club
Each year, Premium Club members receive videos from Propel conferences, totalling around 100. The latest videos are from the Propel Talent & Training conference. This collection features Kathryn York, chief people officer at KFC UK and Ireland, who talks through the success of the brands “The Hatch” youth employment programme, which looks to help young people into their first job, and its “The Kentucky Club”, which hosts jobs-based pop-up events around the country for young people. Propel’s conference videos are an excellent way to keep your team informed about the latest developments in the sector.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2024 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club members will receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday 18 October, at noon. The database will feature 60 updated accounts and 16 new companies, taking the total to 994. A total of 624 companies are making a profit while 370 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2024 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In the current edition, Propel group editor Mark Wingett explores the recent deal for Amber Taverns while Propel’s editorial advisor Katherine Doggrell looks at our recent Talent & Training Conference and asks when it comes to a company’s culture, what happens when great minds don’t all think alike? Simon Anderson, food hall consultant at Ideas Food Consultancy, explains why the segment is in an exciting stage of expansion, and Ben Dixon, co-founder of Sona, looks at how AI can help bridge the gap between a challenging market and a need for growth.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2024 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. The current edition includes what the financial analysts thought of Marston’s 4.8% rise in sales, Stonegate mixing up the worlds of Karaoke and bingo, why Jerry Brunning closed the The Henry Potts in Chester, plus, a Costa Coffee that is taking a unique approach to training. News from across the pond reveals what brand Ben Fordham, founder of Benito’s Hat, is expanding in Texas.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
16 October 2024
Pasta Evangelists reports record turnover of £32.2m, loses widen to £14.7m
Pasta Evangelists has reported turnover increased to a record £32,247,162 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £24,976,267 the previous year. Pre-tax losses rose to £14,685,159 from £9,359,281 as the company “invested in its strategy to drive customer awareness, build the brand and acquire new customers as well as build capability to operate its new factory”.
16 October 2024
K1 Speed karting and Insomnia Cookies investor acquires majority stake in The Climbing Hangar, plans to ‘scale the business globally’
Verlinvest, the investment firm that backs K1 Speed karting and Insomnia Cookies, has acquired climbing operator The Climbing Hangar. The business, which was founded by Ged MacDomhnaill and Stephen Challoner in 2011, started with a single indoor climbing outlet in a Liverpool warehouse and now operates nine sites in the UK
16 October 2024
Just Eat reports UK orders down 1% in third quarter
Just Eat Takeaway has reported orders in the UK and Ireland dropped 1% to 60.1 million in the third quarter but gross transaction value increased – up 6% to €1,764m. Year to date orders in UK and Ireland were down 1% to 180.4 million while GTV is up 8% to €5,199m compared with 2023.
16 October 2024
Chipotle UK reports turnover increases to record £26.2m as it accelerates expansion
US brand Chipotle saw turnover for its UK business increase to £26,336,692 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £17,910,338 the year before. Pre-tax losses were up to £12,513,065 from £7,603,948 the previous year as the business, which employs around 360 staff, accelerated its expansion.
16 October 2024
The Beautiful Pubs Collective takes on fourth Everards pub, reports strong start to 2024 with first six months of trading up 6%
The Beautiful Pubs Collective, the privately owned Leicestershire independent operator led by Sam Hagger, has taken on its fourth pub with Everards and reported a strong start to 2024, with its first six months of trading up 6% on 2023. The Beautiful Pubs Collective has further extended its partnership with Leicestershire brewer and retailer Everards by taking over its Old Horse pub in London Road, in Leicester, from Kevin and Dee Shepherdson, who have retired following a 28-year tenure.
16 October 2024
Tiger Tiger owner continuing with disposal programme to improve profitability
Bar, restaurant and nightclub operator Eden Gardens Entertainment, which owns London nightclub Tiger Tiger, has said it is continuing with its programme of disposals to improve profitability. It comes as the company, which also operates Zoo Bar in London and Florpia in Manchester, reported turnover was down to £16,223,058 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £22,389,353 for the 13 months previously.
16 October 2024
BBPA – new alcohol duty regime led to 100 million alcohol units being removed from the market 16 October 2024
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said the new alcohol duty structure has led to 100 million alcohol units being removed from the market and a boom in new products. The Alcohol Duty Review in August 2023 saw drinks of 3.4% ABV and lower subjected to lower tax, along with a new draught relief to support pubs. This led to brewers investing in lower strength products and pubs serving them to customers – and this shift in sales resulted in the removal of 100 million alcohol units in just one year.
15 October 2024
Starbucks acquires largest UK franchisee 23.5 Degrees
Starbucks has acquired its largest franchise in the UK, 23.5 Degrees, which operates 113 sites, for an undisclosed sum. The global coffee brand said the deal would further expand its portfolio of company-operated stores and enhance “the coffeehouse experience for customers”. The deal increases Starbucks’ total number of company-operated locations to almost 500 in the UK.
Watch highlights from this year’s Propel summer conference and party.
Video presentations of all the speakers are available to Premium Club members, join to unlock exclusive access to 100 insightful videos each year.
To view pictures from the event click here
Propel Exclusive Report
Experiential Leisure report – free for Premium Club members
Experiential leisure’s rapid growth is demonstrated by a 40% uptick in UK competitive socialising venues since 2018. Our 35,000 word report on this fast-growing sector is now free for Premium Cub members and it explores the latest research, examines its market potential and includes a detailed analysis on more than 180 companies operating in excess of 3,000 sites.
The report sets out the history and current meaning of experiential leisure and examines the latest research – including key geographical areas for expansion in the UK. It also explores the current market and provides insight into future trends such as outlets that offer a combination of concepts. It provides a detailed list of UK Experiential Leisure companies including key staff, Companies House information and number of sites.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first and vital video content. Get event discounts and essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus much more.
Promotional Content
7 October 2024
Meet Maral, the visionary behind Ayal: Sharing Turkmenistan’s Flavours with London’s Streets
With the help of the McCain Streets Ahead programme, Maral turned her dream into a thriving business. Through Ayal, she offers Londoners a taste of Turkmen cuisine, from Manti dumplings to traditional palav, highlighting the rich heritage of her culture.
9 September 2024
Meet Eman and Bisan Bites: Bringing Palestinian Flavours to London's Streets
In 2022, Eman embarked on a journey to bring the authentic taste of Palestinian cuisine to the street food scene of London. Seeking guidance from the Streets Ahead programme, she transformed her passion into a reality, creating Bisan Bites a business that celebrates her heritage.
17 July 2024
Taste Uzbekistan: The Street Food Duo sharing the traditions and flavours of Central Asia
In 2022, Akbar and Sanobar joined the Streets Ahead program with a clear vision: to become the ultimate destination for food enthusiasts seeking an authentic and immersive experience.
20 June 2024
UTOPIA: The Syrian Street Food Concept making London taste better
Hind Danoun is one of the many successful refugee entrepreneurs to come out of the McCain Streets Ahead Programme. From joining the programme in 2022 to turning over £21,000 in revenue since launching late 2023.
Never Miss a Story
Subscription Plans
Standard
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Premium Club
Supplier: £595 + VAT / per year
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter 11 hours early at 7pm each evening
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Premium Club Unlimited
- Unlimited access for your company
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter 11 hours early at 7pm each evening
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Conferences, study trips, and propel multi club
Upcoming Events
November 9th 2024
The Propel Naples
Study Tour
The world’s best cities for food in 2024 have been named by Time Out and it’s Naples – the birthplace of Pizza that takes the crown. You can’t talk about food in Italy without considering Naples and you can’t talk about food in Naples without talking Pizza and that is the reason we are inspired to visit the best of what Naples has to offer.
October 30th 2024
Propel Multi Club:
New Ideas,
New Directions
The final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024 has opened for bookings. The full-day conference – titled “new directions, new ideas” – takes place on Wednesday, 30 October at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London Kensington. Among the speakers will be Ben Fogle, the TV personality who has summited Everest, raced to the South Pole and rowed the Atlantic.