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.

May- 2021 -

25 May

April delivery and takeaway sales increase fourfold on pre-Covid levels

Delivery and takeaway sales for April 2021 saw a “fourfold” increase from pre-Covid-19 levels, according to the latest CGA Hospitality at Home Tracker. The results showed that combined delivery and takeaway sales were 345% higher than in April 2019, when the sector was fully open for eating out. Sales grew…
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13 May

Jollibee opens flagship restaurant in Leicester Square

Jollibee has announced the opening of its new flagship restaurant in Leicester Square, London on Thursday 20 May 2021. The new restaurant concept will offer “high-quality great tasting food” at an affordable price point. The restaurant will be open 10am – 10pm every day, with a seating capacity of 175,…
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10 May

Greggs sales recover to near pre-pandemic levels

Greggs saw its two-year like-for-like (LFL) sales close the gap to just a 3.9% decline for the eight weeks to 8 May. It follows a 13.5% fall in LFL sales for the 18 weeks to 8 May when compared to FY19, as the group also showed signs of recovery following…
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7 May

Papa John’s Q1 revenues soar 24.9% to $511.7m

Papa John’s has reported that its global revenues soared 24.9% year-on-year to $511.7m (£367.6m) during the first quarter of the year. The group’s net income for the quarter ended 28 March 2021 also increased $25.4m (£18.2m) to $33.9m (£24.4m), as comparable sales grew both domestically and internationally. While the group’s…
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5 May

Food & beverage sector reports highest level of quarterly deals since 2017

Deal activity in the UK’s food and beverage sector has risen in the first quarter of the year, according to new research carried out by Grant Thornton. This represents the sector’s highest level of quarterly deals since 2017 with 63 recorded transactions in Q1 of 2021, a 15% increase on…
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5 May

330,000 jobs could be lost if rental issues remain unsolved, says UKH

Over 330,000 sector jobs are at risk if the £2.5bn rent debt issue is not resolved, according to new analysis by UKHospitality (UKH). A new survey of UKH members found that resolving the rent debt issue is “critical” to ensuring the future health of a sector that prior to the…
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5 May

Famously Proper acquires Mother Clucker

Famously Proper (FPL), the owner of Byron Burgers, has announced the acquisition of southern fried chicken brand Mother Clucker for an undisclosed sum. The deal will see Mother Clucker “hand over the reins” of its brand to FLP, which is owned and controlled by private investment company Calverton UK. Established…
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Apr- 2021 -

27 April

Reopening sales down 24% compared with 2019, says CGA

Like-for-like sales for the reopening week starting 12 to 18 April 2021, were down 24% from the same period two years ago, according to the latest figures from the Coffer CGA Business Tracker. With the majority of sites still closed, total sales last week overall were 57% down compared with…
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22 April

Just Eat to create 1,500 new jobs in Liverpool

Just Eat has revealed it plans to create more than 1,500 jobs in Liverpool by the end of the year. The new jobs will be created as part of the company’s expansion into its new UK agency worker model for couriers. Liverpool is the third city in the UK which…
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21 April

Hospitality reopening sales 45% higher than in 2020, says CGA

Like-for-like sales at pubs, bars and restaurants that were trading in the seven days from last Monday (12 April) were 45% higher than in the week from 4 July 2020, when they were able to resume both inside and outdoor service. According to the latest data from CGA and Alix…
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