Business

The total turnover of hospitality businesses is expected to reach £100bn this year, analysis of data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) by hospitality recruitment platform, Adia suggests. The analysis also found that over the last five years, the total turnover of all companies in the sector has steadily…

East Coast Concepts is to open its third Victor’s bar and restaurant in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, the restaurant will open on the site of The Alchemist and will undergo a £1.2m refurbishment. Living Ventures launched The Alchemist just two years ago however this will now be closed to make way…

A UK shortage of CO2 gas has led to Coca-Cola and several beer producers temporarily pausing production at two of its three production plants. John Smith’s, Amstel and Heineken have also been affected by the shortage, but Coca-Cola says the shortage has not yet affected supplies. Online supermarket Ocado is…

Starbucks’ recent US store closures announcement “does not affect” its UK stores”, Catering Today has learned. The clarification comes days after the US business said it would increase its US store closure rate up to 150 amid weak sales forecasts that predicted and a falling share price. Historically the company…

Deliveroo will host refugee chefs to bring the world’s dishes to Londoners for the 20th anniversary of Refugee Week from 18 to 24 June. The chefs, who have fled conflict and political upheaval from Syria, Yemen, Libya, Eritrea and Ivory Coast, are part of the community project and charity Welcome…

The chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Frank Field MP, has launched an inquiry into the working conditions and human rights of Deliveroo’s drivers. The High Court granted Field permission to proceed with judicial review on “limited grounds” on 18 June. He and parliamentary researcher Andrew Forsey have published…

Sandwich chain Eat has avoided having to draft in advisors as recent closures and an increase in sales have put the company back on track, Catering Today understands. In February, the chain was reported to have appointed advisors KPMG to help it with its restructuring plan which included the closure…

Starbucks’ first franchised UK business partner, 23.5 Degrees, will open its 50th store on 20 June in Hull. The business opened its first Starbucks store in Liphook, Hampshire in February 2013. The 50th opening is part of an ambitious expansion programme for UK firm, with plans to expand further over…

Heineken has announced it is to upgrade its UK pub network with a £44m investment programme which will see 500 of the company’s 2,900 venues renovated. The upgrade plans are expected to cost an average of £170,000 per site, and Heineken says that the programme could create as many as…

Cards have overtaken cash as Britain’s most frequently used method of payment, thanks to the rise in contactless cards. Steve Newton, executive vice president, UK and Europe of Worldpay, said the UK has passed “a major milestone on its journey to a more digital future”, adding that “the popularity of…