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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Aug- 2020 -6 AugustRestaurants
Yo Sushi eyes CVA
Yo Sushi has reportedly drafted in Deloitte in a bid to negotiate rent concessions with landlords and secure a potential CVA, Sky News has reported. While the sushi chain has not yet made a formal decision to proceed with a CVA, sources told Sky that the group would have “little…
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4 AugustRestaurants
Pizza Express closes 67 sites
Pizza Express has announced that it could close up to 67 restaurants as part of a major restructuring plan, placing 1,100 jobs at risk. It comes as the group said it has reached an agreement with its secured creditors and majority shareholder, Hony Capital, for a recapitalisation and restructuring transaction…
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3 AugustCoronavirus
Eat Out to Help Out launches with 72,000 sites signed up
The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme officially launches today (3 August) with over 72,000 establishments signed up. Anyone visiting a participating restaurant, café or pub on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August will receive the half price discount. The scheme – part of the government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’…
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Jul- 2020 -24 JulyRestaurants
Pizza Express to reopen 150 more UK sites
Pizza Express has announced it is to reopen 150 more UK sites by early August. Some 71 restaurants will reopen for dine-in experience and dine-out services on 30 July and an additional 88 on 6 August. These next phases of Pizza Express’ reopening plan follow “test and learn” trials of…
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16 JulyCoronavirus
Pizza Express set to fall into hands of its lenders
Pizza Express is reportedly set to fall into the hands of its lenders, possibly as early as this month, which could lead to the possibility of store closures. According to the Financial Times, its lenders are in talks with its Chinese owners Hony Capital for a debt-for equity swap with…
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Mar- 2020 -4 MarchPeople
TGI Fridays appoints Alan Clark as its new CFO
Restaurant brand TGI Fridays UK has announced the appointment of Alan Clark as its new CFO, among a raft of other appointments. Clark’s appointment follows several changes to TGI Fridays leadership team following the appointment of CEO Robert Cook last year. Prior to joining TGI Friday UK, Cook held the…
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Dec- 2019 -20 DecemberBusiness Bites
Finally, a government addressing the business rates fiasco
Regardless of your political colours, small businesses up and down the land will be pleased to hear of at least one policy which looks set to survive the transition from manifesto wish lists to actual policy and legislation, and that is a business rates overhaul. The prime minister, Boris Johnson,…
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4 DecemberRegulations & Policies
ASA bans ‘misleading’ Deliveroo ad
A Deliveroo TV ad has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for being “misleading”. The TV ad, seen in September and October 2019, showed a woman taking a delivery from a Deliveroo driver at her front door and then distributing meals from various restaurants around the house from…
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Nov- 2019 -11 NovemberCatering Companies
Deliveroo launches new ‘Pickup’ service for customers
Deliveroo has launched a new click and collect service for its customers named ‘Pickup’. Deliveroo said Pickup aims to help people save “time and money” as they won’t have to wait in a queue for their order to be prepared or pay a delivery fee. It added that this will…
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7 NovemberRestaurants
Pizza Express owner to inject £80m into business
The Chinese owner of embattled restaurant chain Pizza Express is to inject £80m into the business, as it aims to pay off its vast amount of debt. Hony Capital, which acquired Pizza Express in 2014, said the money will be used to pay down some of its debt to bondholders.…
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