Private equity
Reporting centres on investment activity across the UK hospitality and foodservice sector, with analysis of buyouts, growth capital, and ownership changes involving restaurant groups, pub companies, and catering operators. Coverage includes deal flow, fund strategy, portfolio performance, and investor outlook, offering valuable intelligence for senior executives, founders, and stakeholders navigating funding, expansion, and exit planning.
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Jun- 2020 -30 JuneCoronavirus
Byron set to appoint administrators
Byron has reportedly filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators after it “teetered on the brink of financial collapse” following Covid-19. According to Sky News, the burger chain is now looking to secure a takeover of the group, and is holding “detailed” talks with three unnamed potential buyers in…
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5 JuneCoronavirus
Azzurri Group considering sale options
The Azzurri Group is reportedly working alongside advisors in a bid to find a potential buyer for the restaurant giant, according to Sky News. The parent group of Ask Italian and Zizzi, which is currently owned by private equity firm Bridgepoint, is now in the process of contacting prospective bidders…
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Mar- 2020 -24 MarchFood and Drink
Eat to permanently close after 24 years of trading
Sandwich chain Eat has closed its UK business permanently after 24 years of trading, its owner Pret Manger has announced. Its sandwich shops closed temporarily last week after the government announced its latest social distancing measures, however Pret Manger has since tweeted announcing the closures would be permanent. It tweeted:…
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Jan- 2020 -16 JanuaryBusiness Bites
All hail Trump for his damp squib trade deal with China
Do you know what, I don’t know anything about the detail of Trump’s new ‘deal’ with China, designed to hit ‘pause’ on the escalating trade tensions between the two countries after a couple of years of rancour. But I am going to assume, given the president has described it as…
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Dec- 2019 -13 DecemberRestaurants
TGI Friday’s reports rise in sales
Restaurant, TGI Friday’s has reported 12-month-growth resulting in a 1.5% rise in like-for-like sales. The results for the year ending on 30 September, reported a 2.4% increase in sales, alongside a 0.5% rise in EBITDA to a total of £26.9m. The restaurant also reported a net debt of £47.4m as…
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9 DecemberRestaurants
Pho owners consider sale ahead of expansion plans
The private equity owners of vietnamese restaurant chain Pho are reportedly mulling over a potential sale of the business. According to the Sunday Telegraph, Gresham House, which acquired the chain from Livingbridge in 2018, is considering offloading the business before it embarks on a plan to increase its store state.…
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Nov- 2019 -15 NovemberAdvice
Why food businesses are an enticing prospect for angel investors
While it remains a tough time for dining on the High Street, the seeds of recovery are being planted, thanks to the health of start-ups in the food industry. The UK, led by London, is now one of the leading investment centres for the food and beverage sector. Angel investment…
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Oct- 2019 -11 OctoberPeople
Wasabi appoints Henry Brits as new CEO
Sushi restaurant Wasabi has appointed Henry Brits as its new CEO, announcing that he will join the business on 29 November. Brits has previously worked at Yum! Brands and was involved in the turnaround of Pizza Hut Restaurants under private equity ownership. Earlier this year Wasabi secured investment from investment…
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8 OctoberRestaurants
Fears over Pizza Express restaurants as debt talks emerge
Pizza Express has reportedly hired advisors to help its debt situation, sparking fears that it could be the next chain to collapse. According to Pizza Express’ latest annual report, the 470-store pizza chain restaurant finished last year with a £1.12bn debt after a pre-tax loss of £55m. The pizza chain’s…
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Aug- 2019 -1 AugustAnalysis
Who now thinks Byron was worth £100m?
There was a time when Byron was all the rage. Perhaps the earliest successful British recreation of the exploding American ‘posh burger’ trend, it struck a chord with affluent London millennials and quickly became a posterchild for high-growth restaurant businesses in the fast-casual segment. Founded by Tom Byng in 2007…
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