Story of the Day:
Chick-fil-A starts building UK pipeline
25 April 2024
US fast food brand Chick-fil-A, which has targeted 2025 for a relaunch in the UK, is understood to have secured a site in Kingston-upon-Thames, as it starts building its opening pipeline here, Propel has learned.
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Other News:
25 April 2024
BabaBoom, the kebab concept which operates two sites in London, has been placed on the market, with new owners sought to build on its potential.
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25 April 2024
Chicken Shop, the Sir Charles Dunstone-backed business which was previously known as Chik’n, has told Propel it has continued to benefit from strong trading momentum as consumers increasingly look to trade up to premium chicken offers.
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25 April 2024
Andy Naylor, chief executive of Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has told Propel the business is set to explore regional expansion partnerships to supplement its focus on “grade-A company-owned store openings”.
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25 April 2024
Esther Arnanz, formerly of Honest Burgers, EAT, Comptoir Group and Pret, has joined Poke House UK as its new head of operations, Propel has learned.
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25 April 2024
Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, has made a series of board changes as the business “doubles down on its long-held values, innovation and its next phase of international growth”.
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25 April 2024
Healthy rotisserie chicken concept Cocotte plans to explore a regional launch in 2025 after opening two new sites in London this year.
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25 April 2024
Irish neighbourhood restaurant concept The Pantry is looking to expand to the UK. Founded in 2016, The Pantry has grown to nine sites in Ireland – in Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Meath, Roscommon, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford.
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25 April 2024
Health club company Bannatyne Group, led by Duncan Bannatyne, has said it is in “great shape” as it reported record turnover and revealed it has paid off all covid loans.
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25 April 2024
Hogs Back Brewery managing director and brewing industry veteran Rupert Thompson has agreed an investment deal with London craft brewer Mondo that secures the future of the Mondo brands, as well as its brewery and taproom in Battersea.
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24 April 2024
Frank Yeung, co-founder of Mr Bao Group, has told Propel he is hoping to open a new concept later this year to complement the steady expansion of the company’s Taiwanese-inspired Master Bao format.
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24 April 2024
Garden centre retailer Dobbies has appointed Robert Cook, the former Hostmore chief executive, as a board advisor to support the development of its restaurant business.
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24 April 2024
Sourdough South, operator of the Three Joes and The Stable pizza brands, has confirmed the closure of half of its Three Joes estate and told Propel that The Stable was “performing ahead of 2023”.
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24 April 2024
PureGym, Britain’s biggest health and fitness club operator, has said it plans to open between 60 and 70 sites this year as it reported “outstanding” full-year results despite “challenging” market conditions.
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24 April 2024
Six Company, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, is to launch the second site under its new fledgling bar concept, Somewhere by Nico, in Edinburgh, later this summer.
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24 April 2024
German Doner Kebab (GDK), owned by Hero Brands, has opened its 140th UK site and 13th for its Gloucestershire franchisee, Z&K Group.
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24 April 2024
Italian gelato brand Badiani has opened its first UK site this year and its third in the Canary Wharf area of London’s Docklands.
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24 April 2024
Caprinos franchisee Shehzad Rafique has opened his 12th site with the pizza brand.
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24 April 2024
Better burger business Side Street Burgers has opened its seventh venue, in Dundee, as it gears up for further Scottish expansion.
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23 April 2024
Caffe Nero, the Gerry Ford-led, premium coffee house brand, has reported a 10.5% increase in sales for its UK business for the three months to 29 February 2024 versus the same period last year, and said it expects a strong finish to its financial year.
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23 April 2024
Tossed, the healthy eating brand owned and led by Neil Sebba and Angelina Harrison, is to launch its first site outside its central London heartland.
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23 April 2024
Brother and sister duo Layo and Zoe Paskin, who are behind the likes of The Palomar in Soho and Evelyn’s Table in Chinatown, are planning to open a new flagship site for their The Barbary restaurant concept in Notting Hill.
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23 April 2024
Scottish Pizza Hut franchisee Glenshire Group has revealed a pipeline of more than 30 store acquisitions and said it is planning “many more openings” under the brand.
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