Story of the Day - 1 April 2025
Wingstop UK breaking global records, confident in going after larger locations
Wingstop UK has had a record-breaking start to the year, including setting new global standards, according to chief executive Chris Sherriff. Since launching in the UK in 2018, Wingstop UK has expanded to 62 sites, opening its latest restaurant in Streatham, south London, this week.
ONE MOORGATE PLACE, LONDON EC2R 6EA
WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY 2025
Headline Sponsor
The conference takes place on Thursday, 14 May, at One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA, and is open for bookings.
Tickets are £295+VAT for operators, £345+ VAT for suppliers.
20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members.
Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.
Propel Exclusive Report
Propel's International Brands Report is available now
Propel’s highly anticipated International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality by site number, is available to order now. This comprehensive 30,000-word report covers company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential resource for industry professionals.
The top 100 features fast-growing brands from major international markets, including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.
The guide will be delivered in two formats: an introductory PDF featuring expert analysis on international brands and a fully searchable Excel sheet for quick access to key data. This data will be categorised into the key sectors of pubs and bars, hotels, quick-service restaurants (QSR), casual dining, cafés and bakeries, experiential leisure, and fine dining.
Industry experts sharing their insights in the report include Keith Bird, former CEO of Marugame Udon, on the challenges of introducing an international brand into the UK; Simon Chaplin, senior director of pubs, restaurants and franchise at Christie & Co, on why London remains a prime entry point for international brands; Matteo Frigeri, founder of Seeds Consulting, on the challenges of recruiting the right UK franchisee; Michael Ingemann, director of THINK Hospitality, on why European brands choose the UK for expansion; Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova on the UK market for quick-service restaurant operators; and AlixPartners highlights five key trends that make the UK attractive to international brands.
Get the report
Propel’s International Brands report is available now for £595 plus vat. Existing Premium Club Members can receive it now for £395 plus vat. Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 9 May at 9am.
Order The International Report today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
1 April 2025
Marugame Udon signs UK master franchise agreement with Karali Group
Marugame Udon, the international udon noodles and tempura restaurant brand has signed a UK master franchise agreement with Karali Group to accelerate the brand’s growth across the UK and Ireland. Under the new partnership, Karali Group will lead the development of new Marugame Udon restaurants and has acquired and assumed operation of the existing estate, transitioning the brand from corporate-owned to a fully franchised model.
1 April 2025
RedCat’s underlying profit set to double after transitional year
RedCat Hospitality, the recently rebranded operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has said that its adjusted Ebitda is expected to more than double to circa £6m for the 12 months to 31 March 2025, on the back of a transitional 12 months, which has left it in a “more stable and strong position”. The Richard Lewis-led operator of 95 sites said that the work undertaken in the year to 31 March 2024 had “laid the foundations for subsequent transformation of the business, and return to growth and investment”.
1 April 2025
Hospitality hit with £3.4bn annual cost increases, business rates reform must offer ‘maximum discount’
Hospitality businesses will from this month face an additional £1.9bn in wage costs and £1bn of employers’ national insurance contributions, plus £500m in business rates as a result of relief being lowered from 75% to 40%, UKHospitality has warned. The trade body said the cost of employing a full-time member of staff, aged over 21-years-old, has increased by more than £2,500 annually, a 10% increase.
1 April 2025
Wing Shack founder launches digital franchise model, expects to be live in 100 locations by end of 2025
Wing Shack founder Joshua Jarvis has launched a new digital franchise model, which he told Propel he expects to be live in 100 locations by the end of 2025. Wing Shack was founded by Jarvis and business partner Nurudeen Shiro in 2017 and grew to as many as seven dine-in sites within a few years.
1 April 2025
Dishoom to make US debut in New York, plan to be in place by the end of the year
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder of award-winning Indian restaurant group Dishoom, has told Propel that New York City will be the location of its debut site in the US. Talking at the recent Propel Multi-Club Conference, Shamil Thakrar said: “We’ve done an awful lot of work on where we might open. There are a couple options; a southern cluster, which is quite interesting, or you can do the north east. The economics are really different; I think in New York, which is clearly a fantastic restaurant market, the economics are, from a certain perspective, more challenging.”
1 April 2025
Majestic agrees deal to acquire premium wine and spirits supplier Enotria&Coe
Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has agreed a deal to acquire premium wine and spirits supplier Enotria&Coe. Founded as Enotria Wines by Remo Nardone in 1972, Enotria&Coe has grown to become of the UK’s leading premium wine and spirits distributor – working with more than 300 producers, including in excess of 200 exclusive agency brands.
1 April 2025
Real estate business Dominus launches hotel operations division and targets revenue of more than £100m by 2026
Dominus, the multi-sector real estate business, has launched a hotel operations division – Dominus Hospitality. Since 2011, Dominus has developed 15 hotels, totalling more than 4,000 keys, and has retained ownership of five, which are managed by its Dominus Hospitality platform.
1 April 2025
Chef Sally Abé to join Public House Group’s The Bull Charlbury as head of food
Chef Sally Abé, who left the Pem at the Conrad London St James earlier this year, is to join the Public House Group-owned The Bull Charlbury in the Cotswolds as its new head of food. Abé, who left the Pem after four years, will take up her role at the Bull this month, where she will lead the kitchen team and work with the nearby Bruern Farms to build on the pub’s farm-to-fork ethos.
1 April 2025
Six by Nico owner decentralises customer relations function
SixCo, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, has told Propel it has decentralised its customer relations function out to its restaurants – a move it said will “create stronger relationships with our restaurant communities”. The move follows the decision by the business to cut its eight-strong customer relations department.
1 April 2025
Parkdean Resorts – staycations remain the top choice for UK families
Research from Parkdean Resorts, the holiday park operator, has found 52% of UK adults believe staycations are the best holiday choice for families with young children. When asked what the biggest causes of stress are on a family holiday, 51% cited the cost of everything; 30% making sure you have passports, boarding passes and tickets; 24% keeping children entertained on long journeys; 18% language barriers while abroad; and 17% trying to get everyone to the airport or station on time.
31 March 2025
Market Halls acquires Brighton’s Shelter Hall from Sessions for first site outside London
Market Halls, the London food market hall operator, has acquired Shelter Hall in Brighton from Sessions in a multimillion-pound deal. The acquisition makes Shelter Hall as Market Halls’ fifth site and first venture outside of London. For Sessions, this sale signifies a strategic shift towards expanding its brand portfolio.
31 March 2025
Barworks – a lot of interest in the Mare Street Kitchen brand, both in the UK and internationally
London bar group Barworks has told Propel that “there’s a lot of interest” in its Mare Street Kitchen brand, both in the UK and internationally, and that once its newer sites are bedded in and “contributing positively to the group, we’ll be looking for further growth opportunities”. It comes as the business, which opened Mare Street Market Kings Cross and Two Floors in Soho last year, said current trading is good.
April 2025 ~ Premium Club
Propel Premium Club members can access more than 100 videos from Propel’s market-leading conferences. These include the Multi Club Conference – Prospering in the new reality, available to Premium Club members at 9am on Wednesday 9th April 2025, featuring speakers such as Mark Stretton, chief executive of Fleet Street Communications, Maria Vanifatova, founder of Meaningful Vison, Graeme Smith, managing director of AlixPartners, and Phil Honer and Eleanor Warder, co-founders of Atis. Further examples include Anthony Murphy, co-founder of Beefy Boys, Elizabeth Stanway, co-founder of Treetop Golf, Dan Brookman, founder of Airship Toggle, and Chris Stagg, the former Brunning & Price director and current managing director at Peach Pubs. Also, Francesco Arcadio, managing director of dessert Brand Kaspa’s, Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff, Thomas Heier, chief executive of Wagamama, Kate Wilton, managing director of Banana Tree, and Shamil Thakrar, co-founder of Dishoom. Also, Tim Wilks, founder of Lane7, Tom Snellock, founder of Clays, Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, Lisa Boden Shah, partner at Edition Capital and Juliette Keyte, marketing director at Red Engine in a panel discussion about competitive socialising.
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.
April 2025 ~ Premium Club
Propel’s International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality by site number, is now available. Priced at £395 plus VAT for Premium Club members to purchase now, it will for be delivered to Premium Club members for free on Friday, 9 May. The 30,000-word report includes company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures. It showcases fast-growing brands from across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The report comes in two formats: a PDF with expert analysis and a searchable Excel sheet for easy access to key data. Contributors include Keith Bird, former CEO of Marugame Udon, on launching international brands in the UK; Simon Chaplin of Christie & Co on why London is the gateway market; Matteo Frigeri of Seeds Consulting on finding the right UK franchisee; Michael Ingemann of THINK Hospitality on why Europe targets the UK; and Maria Vanifatova of Meaningful Vision on the UK’s QSR landscape; AlixPartners’ highlights five key trends that make the UK attractive to international brands.
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.
April 2025 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, James Hacon, managing partner of Think Hospitality Consulting examines TriSpan’s formation of the Arcturus Group which brings together Rosa’s Thai, Pho, and Mowgli Street Food, forming a high-growth Asian casual dining platform. This strategy enhances operational synergies, scalability, and strengthens brand leverage. The move aims for future growth, creating a robust platform for a potential profitable exit while preserving brand identity and value. Mark Selby, co-founder and chairman of Wahaca, discusses how Wahaca faces negative perceptions about its size and reputation, despite offering high-quality, fresh food. He argues that Wahaca’s dedication to sustainability, quality, and service sets it apart from profit-driven chains. Meanwhile, Philip Sandzer, international consultant at Shelley Sandzer, focuses on the growth of Dubai’s hospitality sector as it continues to thrive, despite concerns of saturation. With numerous high-quality restaurant openings and population growth expected, emerging areas like Business Bay offer new opportunities. The overall market remains vibrant, with demand driven by tourism, expat growth, and evolving dining trends.
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.
April 2025 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this current edition, Sir Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, expresses regret over not expanding the brand internationally, particularly in France, where plans were shelved 20 years ago. He talks about missed opportunities, including in the US and he goes on to hint that there may still be time to lead a global push. Meanwhile, Heartwood Collection, backed by its £100m investment, plans to open over 60 sites by 2027, focusing on pub and room expansions. At the end of last year, Heartwood Collection opened its fifth pub with rooms, in Epping Forest, Essex, which Diary understands is regularly trading at more than six figures. TriSpan has merged three Asian restaurant brands—Rosa’s Thai, Pho, and Mowgli—into Arcturus Group, creating the UK’s largest casual dining operator in this sector. Propel revealed last November that Burger King will open its first Central London location in over a decade at 60 The Strand, featuring interactive family experiences. Meanwhile, Greene King partnered with Carefree to offer 169 unpaid carers free short breaks at its hotels, supporting their well-being by providing respite from caregiving duties.
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.
31 March 2025
Wahaca co-founder – the next six months feels like such an opportunity to introduce a whole new world of people to the brand
Mark Selby (pictured), co-founder and chairman of Wahaca, the Mexican restaurant group, has said that the next six months feels like such an opportunity to introduce a whole new world of people to the business, as he argued against the negative perception of chains. He said: “Going into a very worrying economic environment, it feels that there is an important place for the ‘good chain’ offering delicious, nutritious and freshly cooked food.”
31 March 2025
PizzaExpress promotes Ben Lawrence to international director
PizzaExpress, the Paula MacKenzie-led business, has promoted Ben Lawrence to the role of international director as it gears up to relaunch in the US. Lawrence, who was formerly at Costa Coffee and Yum! International, has been the company’s head of franchise growth for the last two years.
31 March 2025
Sarah Weir steps down as managing director of Albion & East
Sarah Weir (pictured), founder and managing director of Albion & East, the Imbiba-backed London bar group, has left the four-strong business to set up her own marketing and design agency, Every Small Story, Propel has learned. Weir, a former marketing director at Mitchells & Butlers and operations director at Davy’s of London, founded Albion & East in 2016 with the backing of Imbiba, to grow an estate of urban bars located in London “villages”.
31 March 2025
High Road Restaurants sells 45% of shareholding in Koh Thai for £10 to focus on Buenos Aires steak brands
High Road Restaurants has sold 45% of its shareholding in Koh Thai for £10 to focus on its Buenos Aires steak brands – Buenos Aires and Buenasado. In the company’s accounts for the year 30 June 2024, director Gareth Lloyd-Jones said at the year end, the company operated four sites under the Koh Thai brand.
31 March 2025
Sourdough Sophia ups expansion target as it secures further funding
Sourdough Sophia, the London micro bakery concept, has upped its expansion target to having 20 sites open by 2029 after securing a further £600,000 in new funding. The two-strong business, which was founded by Sophia Handschuh and Jesse Sutton-Jones in Crouch End, will open its next site in BoxHall Liverpool Street on 10 April.
31 March 2025
Masala Zone owner sees turnover exceed pre-covid levels to hit record £31.4m
MW Eat, which is behind eight Indian restaurants including the Masala Zone business, has reported turnover increased to £31,372,050 for the year ending 31 March 2024 compared with £26,330,743 the previous year. Revenue also exceeded the £27,958,564 reported for the year ending 31 March 2019 – the last full year before the covid pandemic.
31 March 2025
PCA warns pub companies over compliance with right to price match over premises insurance
The Pub Code adjudicator (PCA), Fiona Dickie, has written to pub companies to ensure they are compliant with its regulations concerning premises insurance – in particular, a tied tenant’s right to price match. It follows a review of Star Pubs’ reported breaches of the Code, which concerned the information Star provided to tenants regarding their premises insurance.
28 March 2025
Wagamama CEO – US business had become quite neglected, debut India site to open in May
Thomas Heier, chief executive of Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, has said the brand’s US operation had been become neglected before the company brought it back under its full control last summer, and that the business is currently doing some work on its positioning in the States.
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
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
- In Conversation podcast series with industry leaders
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
- In Conversation podcast series with industry leaders
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
- In Conversation podcast series with industry leaders
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
MAY 14TH 2025
Excellence in Pub and Bar Retailing Conference
The conference takes place on Thursday, 14 May, at Wednesday 14th May 2025 – One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA, and is open for bookings. Tickets are £295+VAT for operators and £345+VAT for suppliers. 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members.
November 13th 2025
The Propel Bangkok
Study Tour
Bangkok is a culinary hot bed of talent and has no less than 34 Michelin starred restaurants including a street vendor who has one star, it is a truly world class ‘Foodie Destination’. The city also boasts some of the highest rooftop bars and restaurants in the world and is a hospitality bucket list in Asia.