Food and Drink

The latest news and updates on food, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Jan- 2025 -

24 January

KFC UK and Ireland names new general manager

KFC UK and Ireland has named Rob Swain as the new general manager for the UK and Ireland business, effective 1 March 2025. Swain will be replacing Meg Farren, who is being promoted to president of North America for Yum! Brands’ sister brand Taco Bell. He joins as general manager…
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23 January

Foodservice price inflation under threat after November prices rise

While year-on-year inflation fell to 2%, the 17th consecutive period of decline, November brought a return to month-on-month inflation with a 0.3% increase in prices, the Foodservice Price Index (FPI) from Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ revealed. This, combined with the potential impacts of the Autumn Budget, raises worries…
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20 January

UK drinks sales dip 9% in first week of the year

UK drinks sales dipped 9% in the first full week of January as consumers reduced their visits to the On Premise after Christmas and New Year, CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker showed. The “slow” week is in contrast to the final fortnight of last year, when sales jumped by…
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17 January

Deliveroo FY profit guidance bolstered by strong Q4

Deliveroo has reported a 7% increase in gross transaction value (GTV) YoY to £1.97bn and a revenue growth of 6% to £545m in Q4, achieving the upper end of its adjusted EBITDA earnings guidance of between £110m-130m range. As a result, its FY 2024 GTV also saw a 6% rise…
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16 January

The Salad Project opens eighth site on Bond Street

The Salad Project has announced the opening of its eighth location on Bond Street, as it is looking to hit 20 sites by mid-2027. The new Bond Street location combines chef-curated salads with a premium dining experience, featuring a store design by architect Rain Wu. Co-founder, Florian De Chezelles, said:…
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15 January

Boxpark launches ‘Playbox’ concept at Croydon site

Boxpark has announced the launch of its new immersive social gaming experience, Playbox, at its Croydon site in February. Spanning approximately 3,500 sq ft, visitors can expect a mix of interactive games and classic entertainment, with “standout” features including: A digital shuffleboard and darts Interactive karaoke Traditional pool tables and…
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10 January

Lola’s Cupcakes to open in South Kensington

Lola’s has announced the opening of its latest London location in South Kensington, situated at 10 South Kensington Station Arcade. Set to open at the end of January 2025, the South Kensington store is designed as a grab-and-go destination catering to commuters, museum visitors, and residents. The location will also…
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9 January

Greggs FY sales surpass £2bn mark

Greggs has revealed that it has posted sales of £2.01bn during 2024, for the 52 weeks ended 28 December, the first time the company has passed the £2bn mark. Despite the 11.3% sales increase Greggs warned that it would raise prices further to offset increased employment costs. The company reported…
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7 January

Tony Parkin leaves Cliff House Hotel

Tony Parkin has revealed that he has left his position as chef patron at the Cliff House Hotel in County Waterford, Ireland. Parkin confirmed his departure, following just over two years in the role, in a post on Instagram giving no reason for his departure. He stated in the post:…
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3 January

Wasabi eyes expansion amid return to profit

Wasabi has revealed that it posted a profit of £21.9m for the year ended 31 December 2023. The company stated that this was down to a “solid performance” which improved profitability as it balanced inflationary pressure with value for money for customers. As a result of this, the company stated…
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