Sweden
Coverage explores restaurant and bar openings, menu innovation and consumer dining trends in Sweden, with analysis of how these developments inform the UK hospitality trade. Editorial highlights the influence of sustainability, staffing approaches and international investment, offering UK operators valuable lessons for adapting menus, strengthening recruitment and responding to evolving guest expectations at home.
-
Dec- 2025 -11 DecemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Nero Group welcomes ‘record’ half-year sales of £338m
Nero Group has reported a “record” first-half revenue of £338m for the six months to November 2025, up 9% on the same period last year. The group, founded by chief executive Gerry Ford, said growth was driven by stronger trading in the UK and a continued expansion of its store…
Read More » -
Oct- 2025 -14 OctoberCafes and Coffee Shops
Caffè Nero Q1 sales hit ‘record’ £166m
Caffè Nero has recorded sales of £166m in the first quarter of its 2025-26 financial year, up 9% on the same period last year, as demand for iced drinks lifted summer trading. The Nero Group, which owns the Caffè Nero brand, reported like-for-like sales growth of 6% for the three…
Read More » -
Aug- 2025 -6 AugustPeople
Directional Pizza appoints new Europe CEO
Directional Pizza has announced the appointment of Gino Casciani as its new chief executive for Europe, effective 9 September. Casciani has held senior roles at Pret a Manger, KFC, Taco Bell and Odeon Cinemas Group. He was most recently global chief operating officer at Sushi Daily, part of KellyDeli Group,…
Read More » -
Jan- 2025 -17 JanuaryNews
Directional Capital acquires Pizza Hut’s UK franchisee in pre-pack deal
Directional Capital has acquired Heart With Smart, one of the UK’s leading hospitality franchise operators which manages the operations of the UK Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, in a pre-pack transaction which sees the transfer and continuing operation of 139 restaurants across the UK. Directional Capital is a US-based private equity…
Read More » -
14 JanuaryRestaurants
Pizza Hut’s UK franchisee nears rescue deal
Pizza Hut’s biggest UK franchisee, Directional Capital, is reportedly close to finalising a rescue deal later this week, according to Sky News. Directional Capital, which already controls a majority of Pizza Hut’s dine-in operations in Denmark and Sweden, would save the jobs of some 3,000 employees and acquire about 140…
Read More » -
Aug- 2024 -23 AugustBusiness
Hospitality sector claims leap 100% YoY in July
Claims in the UK’s hotel and catering sector have spiked by 100% in July, compared with the same time last year, according to trade credit insurer Atradius. This comes despite overall claims in the F&B sector declining by 75% in July, a pivotal time for tourism in the UK. According…
Read More » -
20 AugustCafes and Coffee Shops
Thomas Kelly joins Espresso House as CEO
Espresso House, the premium café and coffee brand in the Nordics, has announced the appointment of Thomas Kelly as its new group chief executive officer, starting from September 2024. The news comes after Honest Burgers promoted Kelly from CEO to chair within a year’s time. Kelly will remain chair while…
Read More » -
Nov- 2023 -23 NovemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Ole and Steen appoints new CEO
Ole and Steen – known as Lagkagehuset in Denmark – has announced the appointment of Joachim Knudsen as its new CEO, effective from 1 January 2024. Knudsen, who succeeds Jason Cotta, joins the bakery chain from a previous role as managing director of McDonald’s Sweden and Denmark. Over the past…
Read More » -
Jan- 2023 -25 JanuaryFood and Drink
Peckwater Brands acquires Eatclever
The UK-based operator of virtual food brands, Peckwater, has announced its acquisition of Eatclever, a virtual delivery brand in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The UK company will take over Eatclever’s operations in almost 100 restaurants across the DACH region, expanding their presence into three new countries across…
Read More » -
Sep- 2022 -6 SeptemberBusiness
Peckwater Brands acquires Honest Food operations in four countries
Restaurant operator, Peckwater Brands, has announced its acquisition of the operations of Honest Food Company (HFC) in four European countries, operating from over 500 “unique” locations. The news comes as the brand aims to become the “continent’s largest” operator of virtual food brands. Peckwater, which already has operations in five…
Read More »
