- A steak from Australia has once again claimed the title of the World’s Best Steak following the results of the 2024 World Steak Challenge. Jack's Creek & Albers, which is a partnership between Australian beef producer Jack's Creek and a German food importer Albers, took home the accolade for their grain-fed pure bred wagyu sirloin, which was also named the World’s Best Grain-Fed Sirloin, the World’s Best Wagyu, and Oceanian’s Best Steak. It marks the second consecutive year that Jack’s Creek & Albers have claimed the title of World’s Best Steak for their meat.
- Seafood restaurant group Rockfish is taking on Mark Hix’s The Oyster and Fish House restaurant in Lyme Regis following the announcement of its closure this month. The restaurant will be part of Rockfish’s expansion plans in the South West, which include opening a restaurant in Salcombe next spring that will also include a tap room by Salcombe Brewery, and a new restaurant in Sidmouth.
- Business Growth Fund (BGF) has acquired a minority stake in London-based chophouse group Blacklock. Documents filed to Companies House show that BGF, a growth capital investor for small and medium-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland, has become a non-controlling equity partner in Understudy Limited, Blacklock’s parent company. Gordon Ker, who founded Blacklock back in 2015, remains the major shareholder and group CEO.
- Alexei Zimin, executive chef of Russian restaurant ZIMA in Soho, has died. The Russian chef was found dead in a hotel in Belgrade, according to news reports. Zimin launched a number of restaurants, including ZIMA in London 2016, and Ragout, Moscow’s first chef’s table restaurant. Located in a Soho townhouse, ZIMA celebrates Russian cuisine, serving a modern twist on traditional dishes across its three-storey restaurant.
- The Big Table Group says it is considering plans to cut opening hours in response to the Chancellor’s decision to raise National Insurance contributions (NICs) for employers. The Banana Tree, Las Iguanas, and Bella Italia operator said that options being considered by the group includes reducing opening hours and cutting staff numbers, as well as price increases.