Pizza Express
Coverage tracks the operational and strategic developments of one of the UK’s most established casual dining brands, with a focus on estate refurbishments under the “Future Express” programme, rollout of digital ordering and pay-at-table tech via Pepper, expansion into retail with supermarket pizzas, and growth in delivery partnerships with platforms like Deliveroo and Just Eat. Reporting also covers site closures, pricing strategy, leadership changes, and repositioning efforts aimed at re-engaging younger diners and improving off-premise performance. Insight is geared toward operators monitoring high-street group strategy, brand recovery, and innovation in the mid-market pizza sector.
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May- 2025 -22 MayRestaurants
Pizza Express opens at Edinburgh Airport
Pizza Express has opened a new location at Edinburgh Airport in partnership with franchisee Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE). Alongside its classic dishes, diners will also be able to enjoy breakfast creations, with the Edinburgh location just one of two of the brand’s restaurants serving a pizza-inspired breakfast menu, available from…
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7 MayFood and Drink
Popeyes UK appoints new chief marketing officer
Popeyes UK has announced the appointment of Jo Vaughton as its new chief marketing officer. Vaughton will join the company in June, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and brand development for high profile consumer brands, both in house and within agencies. Her previous experience includes senior positions…
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Apr- 2025 -4 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 04/04/25
JD Wetherspoon aims to expand beyond 1,000 locations by franchising with hotel groups. The pub group is specifically targeting hoteliers across the UK, noting that as hotel operators seek to maximise profits and utilise space, developing bars and restaurants can be seen as risky in the current climate, with even…
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4 AprilRestaurants
Pizza Express signs major refinancing deal
Pizza Express has announced that it has agreed a refinancing deal with over 97% of its existing bondholders. The news follows a good opening quarter for the brand with reported LFLs at 1.3% for the first 2 months, compared to last year. Pizza Express has received strong support to extend…
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Mar- 2025 -6 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 06/03/25
Côte Brasserie has appointed Emma Dinnis as its new CEO. Dinnis joins the French brasserie chain following a tenure as managing director of Sofology, where she led the brand’s customer-first transformation. She brings experience in retail and hospitality, having held senior leadership roles at Topshop/Topman, M&Co, Ikea, and M&S. She…
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6 MarchPeople
The Restaurant Group appoints new central operations director
The Restaurant Group has announced the appointment of Michele Bacon to the team as the new central operations director for the concessions and Barburrito division. Bacon has a wealth of hospitality experience and has worked in a variety of different roles within casual dining including Carluccios, Giraffe and Pizza Express. …
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3 MarchFeatures
Why are hospitality groups choosing to rebrand themselves?
In April of this year, D&D London will officially rebrand to The Evolv Collection, signifying a shift in its corporate identity. The group says that the new choice of name reflects its “commitment to a forward-thinking mindset” across its portfolio of restaurants – and it’s not alone in making such…
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Feb- 2025 -27 FebruaryGovernment
Over 30 restaurants urge govt to include delivery drivers in new Crime and Policing Bill
Over 30 leading UK restaurants and supermarkets with more than 3000 sites across the UK have written to the Home Secretary calling for greater protections for delivery drivers in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill. The joint letter forms part of Deliveroo’s Right to Ride Safely campaign, which launched in…
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Dec- 2024 -17 DecemberNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 17/12/24
Sales of pints in December could generate turnover of around £1.4bn, says the BBPA. This comes as the association believes that almost 300 million pints could be sold in pubs in December. As a result, the beer and pub sector is expected to pour a total of £3.3bn in GVA…
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17 DecemberNews
Pizza Express appoints new CFO
Pizza Express has announced the appointment of Colin Elliot as the new chief financial officer, commencing the role in the new year. Elliot is currently a managing director at investment real estate firm CBRE, a position he has had since 2019. He has a proven record working for UK multisite…
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