Hospitality operators face ‘make-or-break Christmas’ amid flatlining sales
Industry commentators have warned hospitality operators are facing a ‘make-or-break Christmas’ after figures show a flattening of sales in October 2024.
Trends & Reports
Analysts warn hospitality insolvencies could rise again despite slim easing of figures
Analysts have warned that the impact of the Chancellor’s Budget could lead to another spike in hospitality insolvencies despite a continued easing of month-on-month figures in September.
Setting kids up for success: National Restaurant Awards partners with Prept
Restaurant’s National Restaurants Awards has named Prept. Foundation as its charity partner for 2025.
Budget ‘severely dents’ confidence in continued growth as number of licensed premises rises
Britain’s number of licensed premises has increased for a second successive quarter, according to the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners.
Friday five: the week's top hospitality news stories
Jack's Creek & Albers' victory in the World Steak Challenge, Rockfish taking on Mark Hix's Dorset restaurant site, and Blacklock selling a minority stake in its business were among this week's most read stories.
Miss Millie’s orders up ‘disruptive’ new brand identity
South West-centric fried chicken shop chain Miss Millie's has revealed a new ‘forward-thinking’ brand identity and a ‘disruptive new attitude’.
Gold Service Scholarship 2025 semi finalists revealed
The Gold Service Scholarship 2025 semi-final is set to be the biggest the front of house competition has ever seen with 50 young professionals making the next round.
Hospitality business leaders' confidence drops again amid severe pressure on margins
Optimism among Britain’s hospitality leaders is at its lowest point since October 2022, CGA by NIQ’s latest Business Confidence Survey shows, amid severe pressure on margins and consumers’ visits.
Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
This year's R200 Awards winners, Dishoom's plans for US expansion and Sandwich Sandwich's second London site lead this week's top news stories.
The Lowdown
Have sharing plates ruined eating out?
A chef has caused a stir by saying that the rise in popularity of small sharing plates is leading to stingy diners.
Month-on-month increases in foodservice price inflation ‘highlights ongoing market volatility’
The Foodservice Price Index recorded its fourth consecutive month of overall month-on-month inflation in September, although year-on-year inflation continued its downward trend for a fifteenth consecutive month, falling to 2.4%.
R200 2024 winners revealed
Northern-based restaurant group Mission Mars was the big winner at last night’s R200 Awards.
Friday five: the week's biggest hospitality stories
Labour's first budget in 14 years stole the headlines this week, alongside departures for Gaucho chief Martin Williams and The Ledbury's April Lily Partridge.
Restaurants grow at-home sales by further 6%
Britain’s leading restaurant groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 6% in delivery and takeaway sales in September 2024, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker.
Josh Eggleton to drive food literacy with ‘interactive farm bus’
Bristol chef Josh Eggleton is building an interactive Farm Bus - complete with live chickens and hydroponics - to drive nationwide awareness and understanding of how food is grown.
The Lowdown
The restaurantification of retail
Restaurants brands are slowly taking over supermarket shelf space. What’s behind the rush into retail?
Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
Brian Trollip's promotion to Dishoom CEO, a dip in profits for the UK's biggest restaurant groups, and Michelin's plans for 2025 lead this week's top news stories.
Michelin Guide ceremony to be held in Glasgow next year
Michelin has chosen the city of Glasgow in which to host next year’s annual revelation ceremony for its Great Britain & Ireland guide.
Restaurant teams up with Dojo for tech reliability survey
Restaurant is teaming up with leading payments provider Dojo to understand how confident restaurateurs are in the tech that underpins their operations.
Restaurant groups see 'solid' September sales growth
Britain’s leading restaurant groups saw like-for-like (LFL) sales rise 3.2% year-on-year in September, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows.
Winners Announced for 2024 Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards
Chefs including Romy Gill and Mandy Yin were among the winners of the third annual Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards.
McDonald’s reports plunge in operating profit
McDonald’s saw operating profit at its UK restaurants plunge from £165m in 2022 to just £11m in 2023, according to its latest financial results.
Hospitality insolvencies ‘show signs of easing’ as month-on-month figures fall to lowest level since January
The Government has been urged not to derail the ‘fragile recovery’ of hospitality businesses after insolvencies across the sector fell to their lowest level since January.
BrewDog promises return to profit as losses widen
BrewDog’s CEO says the multinational brewer and pub operator will ‘return to sustainable, profitable growth in 2024’ despite the group’s pre-tax losses nearly doubling last year.
Hospitality business rates bill to increase to £914m
The business rates burden on the hospitality sector is set to increase to £914m next year on the back of the latest inflation figures.
“We call it operation two stars”: Adam Handling reveals ambitions for his flagship restaurant
Adam Handling has said that he is aiming to win a second Michelin star at his Covent Garden restaurant Frog by Adam Handling by 2026.
The Lowdown
Will it be third time lucky for Chick-fil-A?
The controversial US chain has twice failed to gain a foothold in the UK. Now it’s back for a third attempt with plans to open five restaurants within two years.
Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
TGI's sale to Breal Capital and Calveton, Permanently Unique's expansion plans, and Orry Shand being crowned National Chef of the Year lead this week's top news stories.
Popeyes ‘well positioned to continue growth ambitions’ as revenue rises
Popeyes says it is ‘well positioned to continue growth ambitions’ after seeing revenues rise to £58.1m in 2023, up from £15m the year before.
Loungers ‘continues to outperform market’ as it closes in on 300 sites
Loungers says it is ‘continuing to outperform the broader UK hospitality market’ having delivered like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 4.7% in the 24 weeks ended 6 October 2024.
Wendy’s sees UK turnover rise by nearly 50%
Wendy’s saw a near 50% rise in turnover last year after doubling the size of its company-owned estate.
Restaurant’s Readers’ Choice winners announced
Suppliers and brands including Walter Rose & Son, Woods Foodservice, Reynolds, Nisbets and Zonal have been named as winners in Restaurant’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2024.
Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
The implementation of new tipping laws, Calum Franklin returning to London and rising losses at Richard Corrigan's restaurant group lead this week's top news stories.
Bun fight: the UK’s burger market explained
Burgers are a key part of the UK’s eating out landscape but in general the category’s growth is slowing. Have we reached peak burger?
Beverage prices drive third month-on-month rise in foodservice inflation
The latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) report from Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ shows a third consecutive month-on-month rise in foodservice inflation, driven by rising beverage prices.
StreetSmart puts out the call for new restaurant partners ahead of 2024 campaign
Homeless charity StreetSmart is on the hunt for new restaurant partners to join its annual Christmas campaign to raise vital funds to support people living on the streets.
Farm Africa reaches 612,441 people across eastern Africa
UK-based charity Farm Africa reached 612,441 people across eastern Africa last year with projects including a network of 200 farmer service centres in Tanzania and investments in entrepreneurship in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp.
Dishoom shakes up its menu with biggest overhaul to date
Indian restaurant group Dishoom has introduced its most significant overhaul to its menu since its launch in 2010.
World Steak Challenge hands out 333 medals at 2024 judging
A total of 333 medals have been awarded at this year’s World Steak Challenge, which recognises the best quality meat across the globe.
How to nail Christmas 2024
The festive season has the potential to be the busiest and most profitable time of year for restaurants. Here's how to create a cracker of a Christmas offer.
Friday five: the week's biggest hospitality stories
The return to the UK for Chick-fil-A, a lifeline thrown for TGI Fridays and job moves for Ewan Venters and James Brown are among this week's most read stories.
Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food returns
Action Against Hunger’s flagship restaurant campaign Love Food Give Food is now live, inviting diners across the UK to add £1 to their bill throughout September and October to support the charity’s life-saving humanitarian work.
The Lowdown
30 years and counting: how St John continues to influence the UK’s food scene
Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver are marking 30 years of their iconic Clerkenwell nose-to-tail restaurant by serving their original 1994 menu at 1994 prices.
Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
The end of Karen's Diner in the UK, TGI owner Hostmore falling into administration, and Brad Carter stepping away from his first London restaurant lead this week's top news stories.
August completes 'modest summer' for hospitality groups as sales rise 1.3%
Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved modest year-on-year sales growth of 1.3% in August 2024, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals
What’s behind the casual French restaurant renaissance?
Casual French restaurants championing rustic, all-day dining are opening up across the country. What's behind the trend?
Angela’s to showcase its work supporting young people with three-week pop up
Highly-rated Margate restaurant Angela’s will temporarily move into a nearby training kitchen later this year to highlight its work supporting young people in the Thanet area.
Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards finalists revealed
Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH), has revealed the finalists for its third BIH Spotlight Awards, which will recognise the talent of Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities working within hospitality, food, and drink, across the UK.
Operators urged to support Hospitality Action's Invisible Chips campaign during National Potato Month
Hospitality Action is promoting its Invisible Chips campaign this month to tie in with September being National Potato Month.
The Lowdown
What is with the UK’s current obsession with smash burgers?
In case the queues outside Supernova didn’t tip you off, the UK is in the midst of a smash burger storm.