Investment

Our coverage tracks financial activity shaping the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, from venture capital and private equity backing to corporate acquisitions, refinancing deals, and growth funding. Our reporting is focused on the operators, brands, and concepts attracting capital, and what that means for the wider industry. Whether you’re a restaurant group seeking funding, a pub chain monitoring market valuations, or a catering contractor analysing competitor growth, our investment coverage delivers intelligence that helps business leaders understand where money is flowing, and why. Expect deep dives, expert commentary, and deal-by-deal context, all tailored to the foodservice trade.

May- 2025 -

21 May

Restaurants

Tortilla revenues surge to £68m in FY24

Fast-casual Mexican restaurant group Tortilla has seen a 3.5% increase in its FY24 group revenues to £68m, up from £65.7m in 2023, attributed to the strategic acquisition of Fresh Burritos in France, the addition of one UK company-owned site and a “strong” contribution from its franchise network. For the 52…
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20 May

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Greggs sales surge 7.4% to £784m

Greggs has reported a 7.4% increase in total sales to £784m (2024: £730m) for the 20 weeks of 2025, driven by store expansion and product innovation. Its like-for-like (LFL) sales in company-managed shops also grew by 2.9%, with improved performance in the last 11 weeks supported by better trading conditions.…
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16 May

Restaurants

Slim Chickens opens new site in Merry Hill

Slim Chickens has announced the opening of its newest restaurant at Merry Hill shopping centre. The Southern-inspired operator has opened in a location near one of the food court entrances to the centre. Spanning 5,229 sq ft, the two-floor restaurant features Slim Chickens’ signature red and black décor, seating for…
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15 May

Food and Drink

SSP signs deal to upgrade Southampton Airport F&B offering

SSP Group, an operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has agreed a new partnership with Southampton Airport to transform the airport’s food and beverage offer. The deal also strengthens SSP’s partnership with AGS Group, which owns multiple UK airports including Southampton and Glasgow Airport where the…
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15 May

Pubs and Bars

Butcombe reports ‘record’ revenues of £149m in FY25

Butcombe, the privately owned premium pub operator and brewing group, has reported “record’ revenues of £149m for the year ended January 2025 versus £144.4m in the previous year. Its managed pubs “strongly outperformed” the sector with like-for-like revenue of +7.8% compared with LFL growth of +6% in the preceding year. …
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13 May

Pubs and Bars

Marston’s sales rise 2.9% in H1

Marston’s has seen its like-for-like (LFL) sales up 2.9% in the 31 weeks to 3 May, with strong growth of 10.5% in the five weeks since the period ended. In H1 2025, LFL sales grew by 1.3% reflecting timing of Easter and Mothers Day which fell in H1 in 2024…
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12 May

News-In-Brief

Today’s news in brief – 12/05/25

Punch Pubs has seen its revenues rise by 1.9% to £168.3m in Q2 ended 23 February. The group attributed its growth to inflationary price increases and trade enhancing capex investment in its estate, as well as maturing profits from pubs converted from L&T to MP. Meanwhile, the group has optimised…
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12 May

Pubs and Bars

Marston’s rolls out solar across 120 pubs

Pub company Marston’s has partnered with Two Blues Solar, a renewable energy solutions provider, and installer Nuvolt to deploy solar across 120 of its community-based pubs over the next 12 months. The £5.4m initiative, fully financed by Atrato Onsite Energy, operates through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) – a long-term…
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12 May

Pubs and Bars

Punch Pubs revenues rise 1.9% to £168.3m in Q2

Punch Pubs has reported that total revenues rose by 1.9% to £168.3m in the 28-week period to 23 February 2025. The group attributed its growth to inflationary price increases and trade enhancing capex investment in its estate, as well as maturing profits from pubs converted from L&T to MP. Meanwhile,…
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9 May

News-In-Brief

Today’s news in brief – 09/05/25

Tasty has narrowed its operating loss from £2.6m to £1.6m in the year to December 2024, while its post-IFRS 16 operating profit rose by 33% to £0.4m. It comes as the owner and operator of dim t and Wildwood restaurants closed 16 sites through the restructuring plan it initiated in…
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