Wetherspoons
In-depth reporting on one of the UK’s largest and most influential pub operators, with coverage spanning estate strategy, leadership decisions, menu pricing, refurbishment programmes, and trading performance. This section provides valuable insight into how a major brand manages volume, cost control, and customer experience across a vast national footprint—offering benchmarks and strategic context for pub landlords, suppliers, and hospitality executives watching the branded pub market.
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Jul- 2020 -17 JulyNews
What to expect from pubs and cafes during the pandemic
As Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease up around the U.K., a limited number of pubs, bars, restaurants, and cafes are looking to serve customers by August. Regulated to outdoor dining and self-catering accommodation, independent businesses are expected to function at a turnover of 25% of pre-lockdown levels. Thus, only half…
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16 JulyFood and Drink
CAMRA brands Wetherspoon poster as ‘misleading’
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA) has branded JD Wetherspoon poster promoting lower alcoholic beverage prices as “misleading”, following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a VAT reduction last week. The poster, which includes the CAMRA logo and features the slogan “Sunak’s Specials” says: ‘Rishi…
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Mar- 2020 -26 MarchBusiness Bites
Wetherspoons’ boss was right to withhold wages
The media and the Twitterati have had a field day vilifying the founder and owner of pub chain Wetherspoons over his decision not to pay his staff in light of the coronavirus restrictions. Tim Martin had sent an email to his 43,000 staff saying he could not afford to pay…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Government urges JD Wetherspoon to support employees
The government has urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his employees after reports he claimed they would face delays in payment and “should consider getting a job at Tesco instead”. Martin said the company would not cover wages from this week and employees would have to wait to…
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Jan- 2020 -22 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Wetherpsoon sales jump 4.7% in Q2 results
JD Wetherspoon has reported a 4.7% increase in like-for-like sales for the first 12 week period ended 19 January. The pub giant also reported an 4.2% increase in total sales. For the 25 week period to 19 January 2020, like-for-like sales increased by 5% and total sales by 4.9%. Since…
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Dec- 2019 -9 DecemberComment
Transparency in the food supply chain
Creating transparency in the food supply chain is nothing new, but it has now become inevitable thanks to rapidly growing consumer pressure. Today, consumers want to know exactly where food products come from: 94% believe that transparency fosters brand loyalty, 81% are willing to try a brand’s entire portfolio of…
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Oct- 2019 -14 OctoberFood and Drink
The Meatless Farm Co to offer vegan alternatives at JD Wetherspoons
British food company, The MeatlessFarm Co, has launched its plant-based burgers in the JD Wetherspoon pub chain across the UK. The burgers will be fully branded on the menu and available in as many as 877 branches. The roll out follows a successful trial across several Wetherspoon outlets, and the…
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Jun- 2019 -25 JuneAnalysis
Why are chain restaurants losing customers?
After the recent news of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain going into administration, concerns have been raised that the food industry is on a steep decline. Food and drink chain establishments such as Carluccio’s, Byron Burger and Gourmet Burger kitchen have also closed down some of their stores to cut costs,…
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May- 2019 -31 MayAnalysis
The UK dining sector: A recipe for change
As concerns over Brexit mounted in 2018, consumer spending on the UK’s high streets was anything but “strong and stable”. One of the sectors most impacted was dining. Spend growth fell to just 3% year-on-year compared to 9% in 2017, according to our analysis of the transactions of over 2.5m…
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Apr- 2019 -23 AprilAdvice
Why restaurants of the future must be more inclusive
In 2019, restaurants must face up to the fact that all customers aren’t the same. Whilst society as a whole finds ways to be more inclusive and aware of what makes us different, the hospitality sector must reflect this. Restaurant experiences shouldn’t be confined to a certain type of person…
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