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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May- 2018 -29 May
Pret A Manger ‘sold for £1.5bn’, all staff to receive a £1,000 bonus
Pret A Manger is to give every member of staff a £1,000 bonus after the company was reportedly bought for £1.5bn. Pret CEO Clive Schlee Tweeted the news this morning: https://twitter.com/Cliveschlee/status/1001385588312952833 The deal is set to be completed over the summer with the Pret CEO saying: “The £1,000 bonus will…
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25 May
Spyce restaurant trials robot chefs
An American restaurant has become the first to trial new ‘robo-chefs’ that can prepare a meal in three minutes at a cheaper cost than humans. Spyce, a restaurant owned by French chef and restauranteur Daniel Boulud has set up a touch screen system which customers can use to order with…
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25 May
Greene King says self supply water has ‘exceeded expectations’
Pub chain Greene King has said that its self supply water has “exceeded expectations” following the company’s pioneering application for a Water Supply and Sewerage Licence (WSSL). The company has announced savings of 140,000m3 of water a year since acquiring the licence, the equivalent of 676,313 pints. Greene King was…
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25 May
Oakman Inns sees 6.8% sales growth
Pub chain Oakman Inns has reported a 6.8% growth in like-for-like sales, with the group recording a total growth of 22.2% for the year. Growth has continued into the new financial year as the pub chain saw it up 5.2% over the first seven weeks. Oakman Inns CEO Peter Borg-Neal,…
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25 May
Private equity firms flirting with Costa Coffee
A group of private equity firms are attempting to purchase Costa Coffee, despite owner Whitbread’s desire to float it on the stock market. The Press Association said that it understood Whitbread had been approached informally over a buyout of the firm. Despite potential interest from elsewhere Whitbread is continuing plans…
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24 May
Three quarters of recruiters ‘don’t see any value’ in apprenticeship levy
According to new research three quarters of recruiters see no value in the apprenticeship levy. The research conducted by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) also found that fewer than half are currently using their levy funds, or planning to do so in the next 12 months. Samantha Hurley,…
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24 May
Westfield competition offers chance to open popup restaurant
Westfield has announced a new competition offering participants the chance to open their own pop up restaurant. The competition, in partnership with Omar Allibhoy, will see the winner awarded a space in the newly refurbished food court of Westfield London, as well as 20 hours tuition from Allibhoy. The competitors…
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24 May
InterContinental London’s O2 branch appoints new head chef
The O2 branch of InterContinental London has announced the appointment of new head chef, Lalit Bisht. Bisht will join executive chef Johan Rox and his team at the Market Brasserie from his executive chef position at Hilton Seychelles. The new head chef started his culinary journey in 1993 as a…
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24 May
Atalian Servest makes double acquisition
Atalian Servest has announced that it has made a double acquisition, both The Unique Catering Company and Thermotech. The company’s first acquisitions since the merger between Atalian and Servest will see its portfolio strengthened in both the contract catering sector and under the Arthur Mckay group with the acquisition of…
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23 May
Welsh chefs go head-to-head for National Chef of the Year final place
Two Welsh chefs are set to go head to head for a place at the final of National Chef of the Year. National Chef of Wales contest winner Thomas Westerland and runner-up Matthew Ramsdale will be involved in a cook off for a place at the final, across four heats…
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