News
The latest industry news 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.
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Jul- 2020 -16 July
Pizza Express set to fall into hands of its lenders
Pizza Express is reportedly set to fall into the hands of its lenders, possibly as early as this month, which could lead to the possibility of store closures. According to the Financial Times, its lenders are in talks with its Chinese owners Hony Capital for a debt-for equity swap with…
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16 July
UK payroll numbers plummet by 650,000
The number of people on UK company payrolls fell by 649,000 between March and June 2020, new research from the ONS has revealed. When compared with May, there were 74,000 fewer people in paid employment. Early estimates for June 2020 also indicate that the number of paid employees is expected…
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16 July
CAMRA brands Wetherspoon poster as ‘misleading’
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA) has branded JD Wetherspoon poster promoting lower alcoholic beverage prices as “misleading”, following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a VAT reduction last week. The poster, which includes the CAMRA logo and features the slogan “Sunak’s Specials” says: ‘Rishi…
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16 July
Bistrot Pierre collapses into administration
KPMG has revealed it has led the administration of restaurant group Le Bistrot Pierre. The firm confirmed that restructuring practice members, Will Wright and Steve Absolom, were appointed joint administrators of the French-style restaurant chain. Following their appointment, the business and certain assets were “immediately” sold to Bistrot Pierre 1994…
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15 July
Vapiano to reopen UK sites following acquisition
Property specialist Harper Dennis Hobbs has been appointed by Italian restaurant chain Vapiano to help secure the future of the business in the UK. Following Vapiano’s parent company entering administration in Germany, the brand and the majority of its sites were purchased by Love and Food Restaurant Holdings led by…
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15 July
The Coconut Tree announces phased reopening
Award-winning Sri Lankan bar and restaurant group The Coconut Tree has announced a phased reopening schedule for all six sites across England and Wales. The street food chain will reopen its Cardiff restaurant – the only one in Wales – on Wednesday 22 July; in line with guidelines set out…
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15 July
CAMRA urges CMA to probe Carlsberg and Marston’s merger
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to “take the lead” and investigate the proposed Carlsberg and Marston’s merger, which it says could reduce the choice of beers available to pubgoers. The new appeal to CEO, Dr Andrea Coscelli, follows a string…
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15 July
McDonalds slashes prices as it pilots dine-in scheme
Following the Chancellor’s VAT reduction last week, McDonald’s has announced a raft of price reductions across its menu, to be recommended to all franchisees. The reductions will be found across meal bundles and menu ‘classics’, and while prices may vary slightly by locations, the recommendation includes an estate-wide 40p reduction…
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14 July
UK GDP slumped 19.1% in three months to May
GDP fell by 19.1% in the three months to May 2020, as government restrictions on movement dramatically reduced economic activity. According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this was driven by falls in nearly every industry, most notably by food and beverage service activities, which fell…
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14 July
Brewhouse & Kitchen revenues rise 2.9% during first week of reopening
Brewhouse and Kitchen – the 22 site national brewpub group – has reported 2.9% like-for-like sales growth in its first week trading post the Covid-19 lockdown. The group said it attributes the “strong start” to a “measured and gradual” approach to the reopening of its brewpubs, the “considerable” amount of…
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