Wagamama
Coverage focuses on the performance, expansion, and brand strategy of the UKโs leading pan-Asian casual dining chain, known for its open kitchens, communal seating, and fast-casual service model. Reporting includes new site openings, delivery and click-and-collect rollouts, vegan and seasonal menu innovation, tech-enabled ordering, and group-level developments under parent company The Restaurant Group. Insight is designed for operators tracking high-volume branded dining, consumer health trends, and competitive movement across the mid-market segment.
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Oct- 2025 -14 OctoberPeople
Stonegate appoints Nigel Sherwood to lead its Managed businessย
Stonegate Group has announced the appointment of Nigel Sherwood as the new managing director of its Managed business.Sherwood succeeds Carol Campbell in the role, who has stepped down having led the business through a significant period of change.ย He brings โextensiveโ experience from across the leisure sector, including senior roles…
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Sep- 2025 -25 SeptemberRestaurants
Pizza Express takes ยฃ41.8m one-off charge as FY profits recover
Pizza Express has reported that a non-cash charge of ยฃ41.8m has reduced the carrying value of the brand to ยฃ421.7m for the year ended 29 December 2024. The company maintains that this accounting provision did not reflect underlying trading performance.ย Excluding exceptional charges, Pizza Express posted a profit before tax…
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3 SeptemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Asda owner TDR Capital mulls bid for Costa Coffee
Asda owner TDR Capital is among the investment groups considering an acquisition of Costa Coffee as owner Coca-Cola explores a potential sale, according to the Financial Times. Coca-Cola has hired Lazard to advise on options for the UKโs largest coffee chain, which it bought from Whitbread in 2019 for ยฃ3.9bn.ย …
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Aug- 2025 -28 AugustCafes and Coffee Shops
Apollo holds talks with advisors over Costa sale
Investment group Apollo Global Management has reportedly held early-stage talks with advisers to Coca-Cola as it explores a sale of Costa, according to Sky News. The private equity vehicle, which owns Wagamama’s parent company, The Restaurant Group, is said to be part of a small number of suitors that have…
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Jul- 2025 -24 JulyRestaurants
Seaco acquires Busaba out of administration
Busaba has been sold in a pre-pack administration deal to Seaco Investments, safeguarding around 240 jobs across its seven remaining sites. News comes after the Thai restaurant group entered administration on 16 July, with Neil Bennett and Alex Cadwallader of law firm Leonard Curtis appointed joint administrators. The sale to…
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Jun- 2025 -13 JuneRestaurants
Wagamama launches its โbiggestโ marketing campaign in history
Wagamama has launched the biggest marketing campaign in its 33-year history, unveiling a new brand platform and menu aimed at emphasising โthe emotional and cultural role of food in modern lifeโ. The campaign, called โFood is Lifeโ, is said to mark a shift in the restaurant chain’s strategy to focus…
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May- 2025 -30 MayRestaurants
Wagamama to open at Animate Preston
Asian-inspired Japanese restaurant Wagamama is to open its doors at Prestonโs newly launched ยฃ45m Animate leisure scheme, which has been delivered by Maple Grove Developments.ย ย Positioned between Taco Bell and Mad Giant Food Hall, Wagamama has taken a 4,125 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease.ย The fit out is…
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23 MayPeople
Thomas Heier steps down as Wagamama CEO
Wagamama boss Thomas Heier has decided to step down from his role as CEO after eight years to pursue other opportunities. Heier joined Wagamama in 2017 as people director before taking over as CEO in 2021, playing an instrumental role in leading the business through the numerous sector challenges over…
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20 MayRestaurants
TRG in advanced talks to acquire number of Oakman sites
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) is in advanced discussions with Oakman to acquire a certain chunk of its privately held assets, according to Sky News.ย One of the insiders revealed to Sky that TRG, which is backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, was expected to acquire between…
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Apr- 2025 -8 AprilNews-In-Brief
Todayโs news in brief – 08/04/25
Camerons Brewery has reported a 17.95% rise in EBITDA in FY24 amid debt reduction in the year ended 5 January 2025. The group managed to cut its debt by ยฃ10.8m to ยฃ15.5m as of 23 December 2023, and as a result, now carries much less relative to what it earns.…
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