Vegan products total a quarter of food launches in 2019 January 17, 2020 Almost a quarter of all new food products to launch in the UK last year were vegan, as companies rush to cash in on the growing number of “flexitarians”, according to the latest research. The number of people who have reduced or limited the amount of meat they eat has risen from 28 per cent [...]
All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers posts ‘good, not great’ Christmas sales January 9, 2020 Pub chain Mitchells & Butlers enjoyed a solid rise in like-for-like sales over Christmas, but suffered from strong comparative sales the year before. The core three-week festive period saw the firm’s pub chains – which include All Bar One, Ember Inns and Harvester – enjoy comparable sales growth of 5.6 per cent. Read more: Wetherspoon [...]
Awards 2019 October 26, 2021 2019 Winners The tenth annual City A.M. awards promised to be the biggest yet – and it didn’t disappoint! Hundreds of the City’s movers and shakers gathered at the Leonardo Hotel in St. Paul’s to recognise the most successful, innovative and transformative companies and individuals from across the business community. From dealmakers to entrepreneurs, from [...]
Investment in vegetarian firm helps Hilton Food serve up higher profit September 10, 2019 Food processing and packaging firm Hilton Food Group has reported increased profit for the first half, helped by a deal with a manufacturer of vegetarian and vegan foods. The figures Hilton reported a 10.6 per cent increase in profit before tax for the first half of 2019. Revenue grew 5.6 per cent to £912.1m – [...]
The best and worst ads of 2019 December 16, 2019 It has been a year of highs and lows for adland. PRs, creative agencies, and brands will be examining their advertising efforts this month, and while some will be pleased with their work, others will be looking to improve next year. To help with this process, I asked members of the marketing industry and other [...]
Calorie labelling to cost British businesses ‘tens of millions’ each year July 28, 2020 The Prime Minister’s announcement that restaurant and takeaway firms must introduce calorie labels on their menus will cost British businesses “tens of millions” of pounds each year, according to a new report. Boris Johnson yesterday announced the government will introduce compulsory calorie labels for restaurant, supermarket and takeaway meals as part of measures to crack [...]
Working Lunch: Casa do Frango in Shoreditch is the posh Nando’s of your dreams February 21, 2020 We pick the best places to wine and dine your favourite clients. This week: Casa do Frango in Shoreditch What is it? If I were to say the words “authentic Portuguese piri-piri chicken”, chances are you’ve started salivating, like one of Pavlov’s greedy dogs, over the thought of a lovely, cheeky Nando’s. It doesn’t matter [...]
Which cafes and restaurants are reopening as the coronavirus lockdown lifts? June 10, 2020 After two months of coronavirus lockdown, Britain’s high streets are waking up again. From Pret to Pizza Express, cafes and restaurants across the country are working out how to restart their businesses. So what chains can customers expect to open up again on Monday, when so-called non-essential businesses are allowed to make their long-awaited return? [...]
Retail bosses call for business rates reform in 2020 budget February 13, 2020 Major UK retailers, including Debenhams, Sainsbury’s and M&S, have this morning called on the chancellor to take action on business rates reform in the upcoming budget. Retail bosses representing some of the country’s biggest high street chains have written to Sajid Javid urging him to outline plans to reform the transitional relief system in the budget [...]
Starling Bank gives shares to employees as it raises £60m February 10, 2020 Challenger bank Starling today said it will hand out shares to all 800 employees after raising £60m to boost its expansion plans. The cash injection, led by existing investors Merian Global Investors and JTC, brings the total raised by Starling to £323m and follows two funding rounds of £105m last year. The digital bank said [...]