Casual Dining Group
Reporting on the legacy operations, brand transitions, and strategic changes tied to one of the UK’s most recognisable casual dining groups, now operating under new ownership. This section covers estate restructures, leadership shifts, and F&B developments across former group brands, offering insight for hospitality professionals tracking the evolution of high street dining, post-administration recovery, and brand repositioning in a competitive marketplace.
-
Feb- 2021 -10 FebruaryRestaurants
Big Table Group agrees deal with Centre Parcs restaurants
continued demand for our Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas brands in high volume, high quality locations. “Alongside this, the deal is testament to the commitment each of our restaurants have to delivering fantastic dining experiences to Center Parcs’ guests and the significant investment will ensure that we can…
Read More » -
Jan- 2021 -21 JanuaryCoronavirus
Dining Street Limited calls in administrators
Dining Street Limited has fallen into administration resulting in 147 staff redundancies. The restaurant group, which operated under brands such as Richoux, Zintino, Friendly Phil’s, and The Broadwick, has cited “ongoing uncertainty” surrounding Covid-19 as the reason for its collapse. All of the company’s restaurants have been operating under limited…
Read More » -
21 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Anand raises £200m for pub sector spending spree
Rooney Anand, the former chief executive at Greene King, has raised £200m to invest in the UK’s faltering pubs sector, Sky News has revealed. The investment is likely to come in a series of acquisitions in the coming months, in a bet on an industry-wide post-pandemic recovery. While sources told…
Read More » -
Aug- 2020 -10 AugustRestaurants
22,000 restaurant jobs lost so far in 2020, double 2019 total
The number of jobs lost across the embattled restaurant and casual dining sector so far this year is already nearly double the amount shed during the whole of 2019. Figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research show so far a total 22,039 jobs were lost across large restaurant groups…
Read More » -
3 AugustRestaurants
Casual Dining Group rebrands following takeover
The Casual Dining Group (CDG) has rebranded as The Big Table, following its acquisition by private equity firm Epiris. A new business formed by the firm has successfully concluded a deal to take control of the Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge chains, alongside their existing management team led…
Read More » -
1 AugustCoronavirus
Casual Dining Group falls into administration
The owner of Bella Italia and Café Rouge, Casual Dining Group, has fallen into administration. According to a report by the BBC, almost 1,900 of the group’s 6,000 strong workforce have been made redundant, with 91 sites closing their doors for good. The BBC said AlixPartners, the appointed administrators, will…
Read More » -
Jul- 2020 -13 JulyRestaurants
Former TGI owner in talks to buy Casual Dining Group
Epiris, the former owner of TGI Friday’s, is reportedly in talks to acquire the Casual Dining Group from administrators. According to Sky News, the former backer of TGI is currently the frontrunner to acquire the restaurant group and while no deal has yet to be confirmed Sky sources said a…
Read More » -
Feb- 2020 -17 FebruaryAwards & Events
Casual Dining 2020 confirms over 65 keynote speakers
Casual Dining, the restaurant, pub and bar event, has confirmed it has added CEOs, founders and senior directors from YO!, London Union, Loungers, Carluccio’s, Byron, Flat Iron, Imbiba, Pizza Pilgrims, Wahaca, Dishoom, Busaba, Yard & Coop, and Hippo Inns to its lineup of over 65 keynote speakers. The event, which…
Read More » -
6 FebruaryEducation
CDG launches Leadership Academy Plus programme
The Casual Dining Group (CDG) has officially launched its Leadership Academy Plus programme, which aims to combine its internal talent and leadership programmes with apprenticeships. The programme has been launched during National Apprenticeship Week 2020, which takes place between 3 -7 February. The scheme was developed in partnership with apprenticeship…
Read More » -
Aug- 2019 -14 AugustRestaurants
Casual Dining Group commits to sourcing higher welfare chicken
Casual Dining Group (CDG), has signed up to the European Chicken Commitment, in a bid to improve welfare for the animal. The commitment requires companies to commit to a range of key standards by 2026 around slower growing chicken breeds, reduced stocking density, environmental enrichment, natural light, and humane slaughtering…
Read More »