Strategy
This section highlights the strategic moves shaping the UK hospitality and foodservice industry. From brand repositioning and pricing models to diversification plans, leadership changes, and multi-site rollout strategies, our coverage provides valuable insight into how restaurant groups, pub chains, caterers, and bar operators are adapting to shifting market conditions. Whether you’re refining your business model, assessing competitor strategies, or making key investment decisions, this archive offers sharp editorial designed to support strategic thinking at every level of the foodservice sector.
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May- 2020 -26 MayBeverages
Carlsberg UK announces joint venture with Marston’s
Brewing company Carlsberg UK and pub operator Marston’s have announced a proposed transaction to form a new joint venture beer company, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. The new company will bring together the two brewers with shared values to create “significant value” for its employees, customers and consumers in the UK…
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22 MayRestaurants
Over 1,000 Carluccio’s staff made redundant following BRG acquisition
Over 1,000 Carlucio’s staff members have been redundant after Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) acquired the brand today (22 May). Despite this, the 30 sites acquired in the deal will save over 800 jobs. However, the remaining 40 sites, which were not part of the transaction, will now be shuttered, resulting…
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14 MayCoronavirus
Marston’s agrees £70m banking facility
Pub operator Marston’s has revealed it has agreed a £70m banking facility to help improve its liquidity during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a Covid-19 specific trading update it said it has taken a “highly prudent approach” in its management of the business during this period. It added that all…
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14 MayCoronavirus
Brighton Pier Group details cash-saving measures
The Brighton Pier Group has secured £5m in loans in order to shore up cash during the pandemic. Both term loans are for a period of two years and nine months, and are in addition to the group’s existing term debt and revolving credit facility. A loan repayment holiday on…
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14 MayPubs and Bars
BBPA welcomes new task force for pubs and restaurants
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the creation of five new ministerial-led task forces to develop plans for how and when closed sectors can reopen safely, following publication of the UK’s roadmap to rebuild Britain. One of the new task forces will specifically look at pubs and…
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1 MayBusiness Bites
Are we beginning to re-open anyway?
The PM says he will soon announce the reopening plan after weeks of compulsory lockdown for the UKs public and its businesses. Boris Johnson is under pressure to come up with the blueprint for restarting the economy as the list of suffering firms grows larger and more and more redundancies…
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Apr- 2020 -29 AprilComment
The coronavirus crisis: The importance of adapting and reacting
Weathering the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge for businesses of all sizes and the situation is continuing to change by the day. The food, hospitality and leisure sectors have been hit hard by the need to close restaurants and there is widespread concern over how these businesses…
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28 AprilCoronavirus
Fifth of SMEs in the hospitality space denied a rent holiday, survey finds
The financial hardship created by the lockdown is “being compounded” by a lack of help from landlords, with almost a fifth (19%) of British SMEs in the hospitality space having a rent holiday declined, according to Law firm Buckworths. The figure comes from the firm’s survey of over 500 UK…
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28 AprilComment
‘Don’t Stop Now; Keep talking’: Why communication is still vital for businesses
When it comes to adapting your approach to deal with the current pandemic, going dark with your F&B business’ marketing and communications is the last thing you should be doing. Recent studies have already shown a 61% rise in social media engagement, compared to usual usage statistics. Therefore, whether your…
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22 AprilPubs and Bars
Covid-19: Government must tackle gaps in support facing pubs and brewers
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has written to secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, pressing him to take “urgent action” in tackling the gaps in support facing pubs and brewers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The BBPA said it has led calls for support…
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