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.

Aug- 2024 -

29 August

Foodservice inflation falls to 3.1% in July

Foodservice rates fell to 3.1% in July, showing that inflation has now fallen for 13 consecutive months, according to Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ’s latest Foodservice Price Index report. However, the report also indicated a slight uptick in month-on-month prices, with the whole basket of items increasing by 0.2%…
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21 August

McDonald’s to open 200 UK&I restaurants amid £1bn investment

McDonald’s has announced plans to open over 200 new restaurants across the UK in the next four years, as the fast food group along with its franchisees will invest £1bn in celebration of 50 years in the country. The new openings will create more than 24,000 jobs across the UK…
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19 August

On Premise alcohol consumption falls 23% as soft drinks gain popularity

The On Premise is witnessing a marked decrease in alcohol consumption, with a 23% decline in the UK, resulting in a growing appetite for soft drink options, according to CGA by NIQ’s leading OPUS data. Among the 18-24 year old demographic, almost a third (30%) reported drinking less than they…
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16 August

WHSmith rolls out café format amid food-to-go popularity

WHSmith has launched Smith’s Kitchen, a new own-brand café format that will offer dine-in and takeaway options, outside of travel locations. Smith’s Kitchen is the latest major food and drink launch this year, as WHSmith aims to expand its offering for customers and partners. According to the retailer, the new…
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9 August

Restaurant Brands International Q2 revenues hit $2bn

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) has revealed that total revenues leapt by 17.2% to $2.08bn (£1.63bn) from a year prior, as group-wide sales grew 5.4% to $11.25bn (£8.82bn) in the second quarter to 30 June. It comes as net incomes during the period rose by 13.5% to $339m (£265m), which the…
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6 August

Wingstop UK business up for sale

Wingstop has hired Goldman Sachs to conduct a sales process for its UK business, according to reports from Sky News. Sources told the outlet that the process was initiated in response to unsolicited expressions of interest from potential buyers. Goldman is understood to have begun issuing information about Wingstop UK…
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2 August

Welcome Break FY profits rise 7% to £72.7m

Welcome Break, the operator of 35 motorway service stations with F&B outlets and hotels, has had a successful year to 31 December 2023 as operating profits rose by 7% to £72.7m. According to the group, the year was successful in terms of overall performance, particularly in the peak holiday periods…
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2 August

Edinburgh hospitality braces for sales rise as Fringe begins

Edinburgh hospitality is due to benefit from a major rise in sales as Edinburgh Fringe and other festivals have kicked off today (2 August). Last year, Edinburgh welcomed almost 250,000 people to its festivals, which helped deliver a 30% rise in average daily sales for hospitality venues in the city…
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1 August

Restaurant groups see ‘strong’ delivery sales amid wet weather

Managed restaurant groups in Britain have recorded the strongest growth in delivery sales since the end of the pandemic restrictions due to unseasonal weather, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker. According to the Tracker, like-for-like sales in June were 17.1% higher than in the comparable month…
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1 August

Jerk Junction to open first shopping centre location

Caribbean street food brand Jerk Junction has announced that it is set to open its first shopping centre location in the Trafford Centre. Jerk Junction will occupy a 917 sq ft space in The Orient, located next to HOP Vietnamese. The brand was founded in Chorlton and its menu includes…
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