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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May- 2025 -8 May
John Fleming joins Thomas Franks as regional managing director
Thomas Franks, UK-based family-owned catering partner, has appointed John Fleming as regional managing director for Scotland. Fleming is an award-winning chef with experience at Michelin star restaurants, hotels, stadia, and foodservice locations. Most recently, he was head of food (Scotland) at BaxterStorey. At Thomas Franks, he will oversee food and…
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8 May
Big Mamma to open new restaurant in YY London Canary Wharf
Big Mamma has signed at Quadrant’s YY London building in Canary Wharf to open a new 9,500 sq ft restaurant in June. This is the latest in a raft of F&B deals to have completed at YY London. Earlier this year Brother Marcus, London’s leading Eastern Mediterranean restaurant group, announced…
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8 May
Spending squeeze keeps delivery and takeaway sales flat in March
UK restaurant groups achieved fractional year-on-year growth of 0.7% in their delivery and takeaway sales in March according to data from CGA. It ends a slow first quarter of 2025 for the sector, after a like-for-like increase of only 1.7% in February and a 0.6% drop in January. However, the…
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8 May
BoE cuts interest rates to 4.25%
The Bank of England (BoE) has cut interest rates to 4.25%, down from the previous rate of 4.5%, marking the fourth rate cut since last year’s peak of 5.25%. At its meeting ending on 7 May, the bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce…
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8 May
JD Wetherspoon sales rise by 5.6% in Q1
JD Wetherspoon has reported that like-for-like sales rose by 5.6% in the 13-week period to 27 April, with year-to-date like-for-like sales rising by 5.1%. Total sales only increased by 5% in the quarter, which is slightly less than like-for-like sales as the group opened two pubs and sold seven in…
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7 May
Today’s news in brief – 07/05/25
Various Eateries has seen its sales rise by 8.8% in H1 ended 30 March, driven primarily by the contribution of new site openings. While like-for-like sales for the period were flat year-on-year, this was attributed to the impact of Easter falling later in the year and after the period ended.…
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7 May
Various Eateries H1 sales rise 8.8% to £24.7m
Various Eateries has seen its sales rise by 8.8% to £24.7m in the 26-week period ended 30 March, driven primarily by the contribution of new site openings. As a result, the restaurant operator is trading in line with expectations for the full year. While like-for-like sales for the period were…
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7 May
Popeyes UK appoints new chief marketing officer
Popeyes UK has announced the appointment of Jo Vaughton as its new chief marketing officer. Vaughton will join the company in June, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and brand development for high profile consumer brands, both in house and within agencies. Her previous experience includes senior positions…
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7 May
New alfresco cocktail bar to open on London’s Southbank
A new alfresco cocktail bar Ten will open on 8 May on the riverside at Southbank Centre’s Queens Walk in London. The bar will be led by founder Jimmy Garcia, known for The Chalet at Somerset House and Jimmy’s BBQ Club at Southbank Centre. The menu will feature 10 cocktails…
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7 May
UKH rolls out hospitality training programmes across England
UKHospitality, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has announced the launch of hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in 26 areas across England. The new programme trains jobseekers with hospitality skills in a working environment and provides them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview…
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