Story of the Day:
Stonegate CEO – our scale and resources should make us go faster, converting more managed pubs to leased and tenanted
26 April 2024
David McDowall (pictured), chief executive of Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has told Propel that the company’s business plan of optimising its assets and conversion strategy is happening at pace, but the hurdle for what now makes a managed pub viable means it has had to evolve.
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Other News:
26 April 2024
Cafe bar operator Loungers has reported like-for-like sales growth of 7.5% for the 53 weeks ended 21 April 2024, and said it expects its Ebitda for FY24 to be ahead of market expectations.
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26 April 2024
Brian Niccol, chief executive of Chipotle, which operates 20 sites in the UK, has said the business is working on unlocking the US brand’s potential in Europe.
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26 April 2024
Daren Knipe (pictured), chief executive of north east pub management company Blackrose, has said the opportunity to acquire for scale or merge will be a key driver in the pub sector over the next year, as the business announced it had secured a multimillion-pound deal to build a 100-plus pub portfolio.
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26 April 2024
Junk Group, the French-based business which operates four brands across France, is to make its UK debut with an opening in London under its smash burger concept, Junk Burger, Propel has learned.
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26 April 2024
Glasgow smash burger and dessert concept Big Licks has launched a £150,000 fundraise as it prepares to franchise.
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26 April 2024
Merlin Entertainments has partnered with US and UK-based media company Wheelhouse to create a range of entertainment content.
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26 April 2024
London-based Five Points Brewing has closed its crowdfunding campaign after raising more than more than £460,000 as the business looks to start expanding its pub estate and increase brewing capacity.
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26 April 2024
Toca, the US parent company of interactive football bar concept Toca Social, has received investment from world chess champion Magnus Carlsen.
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26 April 2024
The pan-European hostel company Beds & Bars, led by Keith Knowles (pictured), is looking to sell its site in London’s Greenwich as it seeks to focus on larger units across Europe.
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26 April 2024
Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts will open a new site in Milton Keynes tomorrow (Saturday, 27 April).
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25 April 2024
Chicken Shop, the Sir Charles Dunstone-backed business which was previously known as Chik’n, has told Propel it has continued to benefit from strong trading momentum as consumers increasingly look to trade up to premium chicken offers.
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25 April 2024
Andy Naylor, chief executive of Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has told Propel the business is set to explore regional expansion partnerships to supplement its focus on “grade-A company-owned store openings”.
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25 April 2024
Esther Arnanz, formerly of Honest Burgers, EAT, Comptoir Group and Pret, has joined Poke House UK as its new country manager UK, Propel has learned.
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25 April 2024
Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, has made a series of board changes as the business “doubles down on its long-held values, innovation and its next phase of international growth”.
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25 April 2024
Healthy rotisserie chicken concept Cocotte plans to explore a regional launch in 2025 after opening two new sites in London this year.
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25 April 2024
Irish neighbourhood restaurant concept The Pantry is looking to expand to the UK. Founded in 2016, The Pantry has grown to nine sites in Ireland – in Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Meath, Roscommon, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford.
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25 April 2024
Health club company Bannatyne Group, led by Duncan Bannatyne, has said it is in “great shape” as it reported record turnover and revealed it has paid off all covid loans.
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25 April 2024
Hogs Back Brewery managing director and brewing industry veteran Rupert Thompson has agreed an investment deal with London craft brewer Mondo that secures the future of the Mondo brands, as well as its brewery and taproom in Battersea.
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24 April 2024
Frank Yeung, co-founder of Mr Bao Group, has told Propel he is hoping to open a new concept later this year to complement the steady expansion of the company’s Taiwanese-inspired Master Bao format.
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24 April 2024
Garden centre retailer Dobbies has appointed Robert Cook, the former Hostmore chief executive, as a board advisor to support the development of its restaurant business.
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24 April 2024
Sourdough South, operator of the Three Joes and The Stable pizza brands, has confirmed the closure of half of its Three Joes estate and told Propel that The Stable was “performing ahead of 2023”.
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24 April 2024
PureGym, Britain’s biggest health and fitness club operator, has said it plans to open between 60 and 70 sites this year as it reported “outstanding” full-year results despite “challenging” market conditions.
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Propel Multi Club organises four all-day conferences each year. Operators attend for free thanks to our wonderful sponsors. The flagship event is the Summer Conference and Party held in September (see the video above), attracting 400 attendees. If you would like to get involved as a sponsor email jo.charity@propelinfo.com or jill.harrington@propelinfo.com
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