News-In-Brief

Mar- 2025 -

25 March

Today’s news in brief – 25/03/25

Red Engine has seen a 15% uplift in sales to £77.1m in FY24. During the year, the group’s sales combined with its franchise partners reached £118.3m. It added that EBITDA is expected to have surpassed the £12m it recorded in 2023. Over the next five years, Red Engine aims to…

24 March

Today’s news in brief – 24/03/25

Wendy’s is on track to open its 50th UK restaurant in 2025, a year that will also see it establish its presence in Scotland, Ireland and Romania for the first time. New Wendy’s restaurants will open in Blackpool, Glasgow, Grays (Lakeside), Watford, and York in the coming months, creating over…

21 March

Today’s news in brief – 21/03/25

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin said that the budget’s impact will raise costs by £60m at the pub chain, which would mean about £1,500 per pub, per week. It comes as Wetherspoon revealed in its half-year report that operating profits fell by 4.3% to £64.8m, mainly due to labour and utility…

20 March

Today’s news in brief – 20/03/25

UKH have called for packaging supplied to venues to be exempt from the EPR. The likes of Azzurri Group, Burger King UK, Fuller’s, Marston’s, Punch Pubs, St Austell Brewery, Stonegate Group and Wells & Co have signed the letter to Steve Reed, the Defra Secretary of State, that states that…

19 March

Today’s news in brief – 19/03/25

Cornish Bakery has appointed Tamweel to oversee a sale of the business. It comes as the chain has seen sustained year-on-year growth, with revenues and site EBITDA for the 12-month period to May 2025 expected to reach £37m and £8.3m respectively. Under the leadership of MD Mat Finch, Cornish Bakery…

18 March

Today’s news in brief – 18/03/25

Emerald Hospitality will be expanding in partnership with Regis Group, a luxury real estate investor, to launch three dining concepts in Central London. Regis Group, which is known as the owner of Claridge’s Hotel in London, will enable Emerald to scale its portfolio while “continuing to set benchmarks in luxury…

17 March

Today’s news in brief – 17/03/25

On-premise drinks sales have seen above-inflation growth for three consecutive weeks, following a “challenging” January and early February. Sales recovered in the third week of February and momentum has continued. CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker indicates growth of 4% in the week to 1 March, as good weather moved…

14 March

Today’s news in brief – 14/03/25

Deliveroo has hit a profit of £3m for 2024, following a loss of £32m in the year prior. It comes as the restaurant and groceries delivery platform had “a good year of growth”, in which its gross transaction value jumped 6% and revenues rose by 3% in constant currency. The…

13 March

Today’s news in brief – 13/03/25

Joe and the Juice will be opening a flagship site in Manchester on Saturday 15 March. According to the Danish juice bar chain, the opening was inspired by Manchester-based rap star Aitch, who slid into the brand’s Instagram DMs to voice his desire for a store in his hometown. In…

12 March

Today’s news in brief – 12/03/25

UKH has called for the government to delay the reduction in employer NICs threshold after hospitality business confidence hit a two-year low. Only 14% of businesses feel optimistic about the hospitality market, according to research from CGA by NIQ’s Business Confidence survey. It also called for the government’s business rates…