Demand

Understand what’s driving, or dampening, customer demand across restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés, and contract catering. Our focused reporting features dining trends, footfall patterns, booking behaviour, menu shifts, delivery and takeaway volumes, and the wider economic factors impacting consumer spend in hospitality. Whether you’re adapting to shifting weekday trade, reacting to seasonal fluctuations, or planning promotional strategies, this archive offers data-driven insights to help operators, chefs, and F&B leaders align operations with real-time market dynamics.

Apr- 2019 -

3 April

Beverages

Sales at Global Brands top £50m

Independent drinks producer and distributor Global Brands has reported a 19.5% increase in total sales, taking turnover to over £50m for the financial year ending 30 September 2018. This follows 16% growth in the previous financial year and a gross profit rise from £11.8m to £14m for FY 2017/18. Global…
Read More »
1 April

Features

Business interior spring/summer trends for 2019

The spring/summer season is fast approaching us; the weather is getting warmer, the evenings are becoming lighter and the sun is shining brighter. This means it’s now time put away the heavier throws and textured pillows and think about creating a more summery feel for hospitality and work spaces. There…
Read More »
Mar- 2019 -

11 March

Restaurants

Pizza Express launches grab-and-go concept ZA

Pizza Express is undertaking a “significant” brand refresh, with the launch of its new concept ZA. The new offering recently opened on Fenchurch Street in London and builds on the early inspiration for Pizza Express – Peter Boizot selling fresh, hot slices of pizza. The company said it was responding…
Read More »
8 March

Pubs and Bars

London’s first Oden Bar extends residency due to demand

London’s first Oden Bar at Cubé restaurant in Mayfair will remain open until the end of May instead of the end of March like originally planned. The Oden Bar launched at the beginning of February as an informal and secret Japanese bar with 12 seats serving just one dish, hidden…
Read More »
4 March

Restaurants

Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner to close 27 sites

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is to close a third of its Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner sites, affecting hundreds of jobs, as the group seeks a rescue deal. BRG has appointed KPMG to oversee its CVA deal which if approved will see the group reduce its portfolio and seek rent…
Read More »
Feb- 2019 -

28 February

Opinion

How AI will disrupt the service industry in 2019

Before we begin, it’s important to define what is meant by artificial intelligence. When mentioned in the media, AI can mean anything from machine learning in supply chain programming to robot baristas serving your morning flat white. According to IBM, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to systems that can actually ‘understand,…
Read More »
25 February

Opinion

People Powered: six things I learnt from a sustainable sourcing model

Fairtrade Fortnight (25 February to 10 March) is an annual opportunity to celebrate all that the organisation has achieved over the years. In my view, no other organisation has done more to make consumers stop, consider and care where their food, drink, clothes and jewellery come from. Inspired by Fairtrade,…
Read More »
22 February

Pubs and Bars

Lucky Voice to open first new site for a decade

Karaoke bar company, Lucky Voice has announced it is to open its first venue in 10 years in London’s Holborn area. The company, which already has three venues in Soho, Islington and Brighton, will open its fourth site on Chancery Lane, in late February 2019. The 5,000 square foot venue,…
Read More »
20 February

Restaurants

East London’s Fayre Share restaurant closes

East London’s Fayre Share restaurant has closed after what the restaurant’s co-founder Mark Bloom called a lack of “weekday demand”. The restaurant, which offered a menu of traditional British sharing plates opened in May last year by Bloom and his business partner Barry Myers. The pair have confirmed that they…
Read More »
19 February

Business

Suffolk coffee start-up expands to the Middle East

A Bury St Edmunds coffee start-up is tapping into growing demand for British artisanal coffee in the Middle East by opening its first distribution hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with support from the Department for International Trade (DIT). Launched in 2007 from managing director Scott Russell’s car boot,…
Read More »