Covid-19
Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UK’s foodservice and hospitality sector, from lockdown trading restrictions and government support schemes to recovery planning, operational adaptations, and long-term business implications. This includes essential reporting for restaurant operators, pub landlords, caterers, chefs, and F&B directors navigating one of the most disruptive periods in industry history.
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Sep- 2021 -17 SeptemberRestaurants
Electra confirms plans to demerge Fridays
Electra Private Equity has confirmed plans to demerge its Fridays and 63rd+1st brands under a new parent company, Hostmore. The firm had previously announced plans to demerge the brands earlier this year. It is planned for the shares in Hostmore to be admitted to the main market of The London…
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16 SeptemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Bain Capital acquires Bread Holdings
Gail’s Bakery parent company Bread Holdings, which also owns The Bread Factory, has been sold to Bain Capital Credit in partnership with EBITDA Investments for an undisclosed sum. The move is backed by entrepreneurs Henry McGovern and Steven K. Winegar, to support the group as it moves into its 4th…
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15 SeptemberCoronavirus
UKH warns of ‘drastic’ Covid-19 contingency measures impact
UKHospitality has warned the Government of the potential ‘drastic’ fallout should any of its Covid-19 restrictions currently left on reserve be introduced over the Winter. Announced on 14 September, the Autumn and Winter plan for 2021 targeted vaccines uptake and booster jabs as the key way to limit the spread…
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10 SeptemberBusiness
UK economic growth slows, ONS reveals
UK economic growth slowed down in July, growing by 0.1% compared with 1% in June 2021, according to the latest data by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). With the spread of the Delta variant and the “pingdemic” taking its hold in July, gross domestic product (GDP) still remains 2.1%…
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9 SeptemberFood and Drink
Costa Coffee to increase staff pay by 5%
Costa Coffee has announced that all 14,500 of its store team members in UK company-owned stores will receive a 5% pay increase. From 1 October 2021, all store team members will receive pay increases of at least 45p per hour, bringing minimum pay to £9.36 per hour from £8.91. The…
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9 SeptemberBusiness
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants swings to £5.1m loss
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has announced that the group swung to a £5.1m loss before tax in FY20, down from £15.2m profits the previous year. Consolidated turnover at the company also fell 36.9% year-on-year to £34.5m for the year ended 31 August 2020. The celebrity chef’s restaurant group attributed the decline…
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8 SeptemberBusiness
August consumer spending rose 15.4%, Barclaycard reveals
Consumer card spending rose 15.4% in August, compared with the same period in 2019, with growth recorded across all sectors apart from international travel, according to new data from Barclaycard. For the hospitality and leisure sector, restaurant spending broke into positive growth for the first time since the pandemic hit…
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2 SeptemberBusiness
No-shows cost hospitality £17.6bn a year, study finds
Bookers who don’t turn up to hospitality reservations without telling the venue reportedly cost the hospitality industry £17.6bn per year. According to research conducted by hospitality technology firm Zonal and data and insight consultancy CGA, one in seven customers have failed to make a reservation without warning ahead since April.…
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Aug- 2021 -27 August
EG Group to add 10 new Leon sites in 2021
EG Group has announced that it plans to open approximately 10 new Leon sites across the UK before the end of 2021. The retail giant made the announcement as a part of its Q2 FY21 results, during which it saw the completion of its Leon acquisition followed by “strong progress…
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26 AugustPubs and Bars
Boxpark and Barfection launch hospitality training scheme
Boxpark and training providers Barfection have announced a new training program for young people looking to enter the hospitality sector. The scheme will see students gain work experience at Boxpark’s three locations in London and also acquire a qualification via Barfection. The new programme was recently revealed at a recruitment…
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