Casual Dining
We report on the business of casual dining, a key segment of the UK foodservice sector encompassing high-street restaurant brands, all-day dining concepts, and accessible, mid-market hospitality. This includes our coverage of openings, closures, financial results, menu innovation, tech integration, and leadership moves across the casual dining space. Whether you’re managing a national chain or operating a regional brand, we deliver timely insight into the pressures, pivots, and opportunities shaping this highly competitive market, with a focus on operational performance, consumer trends, and commercial sustainability.
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Apr- 2019 -11 AprilFeatures
Recruitment in the catering industry
When asked in a recent survey, only one third of employees from the catering industry said that they chose their job based on having a passion for food. But, what makes this industry an attractive one to work in and what is recruitment currently like in the sector? Is there…
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10 AprilPeople
Casual Dining Group launches new refugee programme
Casual Dining Group (CDG), has announced it has launched a pilot programme that aims to support Syrian refugees in gaining the necessary skills and experience to transition into the world of work. The programme, run in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), World Jewish Relief, and SPS…
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1 AprilPeople
Byron appoints Simon Wilkinson as CEO
Burger chain, Byron has announced that it has appointed Simon Wilkinson as its chief executive officer. Wilkinson has recently been a CEO consultant to the Carlyle Group, the investment firm and an advisor to Parkdean Resorts. Prior to that he was CEO at La Tasca Restaurants, which was sold to…
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Mar- 2019 -29 MarchVenues & Properties
The Grand appoints Norman McKenzie as executive chef
The Grand in York has announced the appointment of Norman McKenzie as the hotel’s new executive chef. McKenzie has been running his own consultancy for the past year and a half, following roles as group executive chef for the Malhotra Group, head chef of the Feversham Arms Hotel, executive head…
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25 MarchAnalysis
Deliveroo – making the move from platform to operator
Last May, Deliveroo Editions announced that it would start bringing its own brands of food to market – and now we see Deliveroo stepping this up. In London, for example, Deliveroo Editions has six of its own brands offering food available from Crouch End in north London. The brands represent…
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13 MarchRestaurants
The Ivy Collection’s opening manager joins Carluccio’s
Carluccio’s has appointed Dominika Rusnak as its Fresca openings manager. She joins the group’s senior management team to support the brand’s ‘Fresca’ transformation programme. The restaurant chain’s project Fresca will see the brand transform 20 sites under a £10m investment. There have been a number of strategic hires to drive…
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12 MarchRestaurants
Boxpark to open its first site outside London
Development company, Boxpark, has signed a lease to create a landmark seafront dining destination and community cafe on Shoreham Beach. The Brighton-based firm, who are behind the acclaimed casual dining and retail developments in Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley, have struck an agreement with Adur District Council to create the Big…
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11 MarchBusiness
Pubs see Feb sales boost as restaurants continue to struggle
Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase just 0.3% in February against the same month last year, according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. While managed pub groups enjoyed a 1.4% increase in collective like-for-like sales, restaurant groups saw a collective decline recording…
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5 MarchRestaurants
Casual Dining Group CEO steps down
Steve Richards, the CEO of Casual Dining Group (CDG), will be leaving the restaurant group at the end of May 2019 to join holiday resort company Parkdean Holidays as its CEO. CDG operates around 290 restaurants across a number of brands including Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge. Appointed…
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Feb- 2019 -25 FebruaryRestaurants
UK managed restaurant numbers drop for first time in nine years
Britain’s supply of casual dining restaurants dipped for the first time in nine years in 2018 as a sustained decline in the wider licensed sector continued, according to new research. The new edition of the ‘Market Growth Monitor’ from CGA and AlixPartners revealed Britain had 5,780 managed restaurants in December…
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