News
The News section on Catering Today delivers the latest updates and developments across the UK hospitality and catering industry. Covering restaurants, pubs, quick service brands, and catering groups, it reports on company announcements, market performance, government policy, and sector-wide trends. With a focus on commercial and operational impact, Catering Today’s news coverage keeps hospitality professionals informed of the events and decisions shaping business conditions and strategic opportunities across the sector.
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Sep- 2024 -20 September
Knoops raises £1m on first day of crowdfunding campaign
Knoops has raised over £1m since launching its campaign on Wednesday 18 September via Crowdcube, the world’s largest equity crowdfunding platform. The Crowdcube campaign went live on Wednesday (18 September) with an initial target of £1m, which had already been comfortably surpassed by the end of yesterday (19 September). The…
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20 September
Caffè Nero hits record Q1 sales of £147m
Caffè Nero has reported recorded sales of £147m for the first quarter, driven by very strong growth in the UK of 12.5% year-on-year and a like-for-like sales rise of 9.1%. The coffee house brand’s Q1 performance was “notably” above the general trend of the F&B sector, marking a continuation of…
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20 September
JW Lees to acquire The Bellflower pub from Marston’s
JW Lees has agreed to acquire The Bellflower pub restaurant in Garstang Lancashire from Marston’s for an undisclosed sum. The news comes after the recent acquisition of The Craigside Hotel in Little Orme in Llandudno from Whitbread. The acquisition of The Bellflower pub restaurant will take Jw Lees’ Managed Pub…
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19 September
Today’s news in brief – 19/09/24
Hostmore has fallen into administration, endangering some 4,500 jobs. While a total of 87 TGI Fridays restaurants have been put up for sale, they will continue to operate as normal during the administration process. The news comes after Hostmore’s plans to acquire the US operator of TGI Fridays for £177m…
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19 September
ASLEF accepts pay deal ending industrial action
Train drivers union ASLEF has voted to accept a multi-year pay deal bringing to an end a two-year dispute with 16 train companies. Members of the union voted 96% in favour of the deal which will see drivers receive a pay rise of 15% over the next three years. Secretary…
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19 September
Pubs outperform licensed sector despite ‘disappointing’ weather
Managed pubs have outperformed the licensed sector as a whole in August, with year-on-year growth of 2.9% despite disappointing weather, according to the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. Restaurants recorded a 0.8% increase, while the on-the-go segment achieved 5.0% growth. However, bars continued a long run…
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19 September
La Maritxu to open second café in Soho
La Maritxu, the Basque cheesecake operator, has signed for its second London location on Soho’s Kingly Street. La Maritxu will open a 271 sq ft café at 10 Kingly Street, adjacent to the entrance of Soho’s renowned food hub Kingly Court. The café specialises in Basque cheesecakes, originating from San…
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19 September
BoE holds interest rates at 5%
The Bank of England (BoE) has decided to hold interest rates at 5% this month, having lowered them for the first time in four years in August. The bank voted by a majority of 8-1 to keep the rate the same in a bid to help “sustain growth and employment”.…
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19 September
TGI Friday owner calls in administrators, 4,500 jobs at risk
Hostmore, the group behind TGI Fridays restaurants in the UK, has officially appointed administrators from Teneo Financial Advisors. A total of 87 TGI Fridays restaurants have been put up for sale, endangering some 4,500 jobs. Hostmore said it is hopeful that all UK-based restaurants sell to new owners by the…
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18 September
Today’s news in brief – 18/09/24
Comptoir Group has seen its loss after tax widen to £1.7m in H1, despite reporting a revenue rise of 7.4% to £15.9m. Adjusted EBITDA loss before highlighted items also widened to £0.6m from £0.3m a year earlier. The group has attributed its mounting losses to its sustained restaurant opening programme. …
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