IPO-bound SSP signs £135m deal for five units at Stansted Airport July 3, 2014 Food concession group SSP yesterday announced it had won a £135m seven-year deal to run five new units at London Stansted Airport. SSP, which is due to launch a flotation in the next few days, said that one of the concessions would be a high-end bakery concept, the James Martin Kitchen, created in partnership with the TV [...]
Battle of the Burgers: Burger King serves up sales growth to equal rival McDonald’s October 28, 2013 Fast food chain Burger King has reported higher quarterly profits on the back of cost reductions and higher same-restaurant sales growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Burger King said that same-restaurant sales grew by 0.9 per cent in the third quarter – the same as the growth reported by rival McDonald's [...]
The latest gimmick (or the next big thing): Cheese and coffee March 17, 2015 How does a new restaurant make its mark on a London foodie scene already reaching saturation point? There’s the old fashioned way: serving great food at a reasonable prices. And there’s the 21st century way: coming up with a gimmick, a weird pairing, some novelty way of serving or ordering food, something to make people [...]
McDonald’s share price takes a hit as fast food giant’s profit slips July 22, 2014 McDonald's shareholders were left with a sour taste today, as another disappointing earnings report sent shares in the hamburger chain tumbling by more than two per cent in early trading. The fast-food giant said its profit for the second quarter fell one per cent in the three months to June, while same store sales dropped [...]
So wrong it’s right: The Double Donut Burger with streaky bacon hits Hungry Horse menu November 11, 2014 Britain's culinary tastes may be beginning to mirror those of their colonial cousins in America, if the latest offering from pub chain Hungry Horse is anything to go by. Diners at the chain, owned by brewer Greene King, can now indulge their meat cravings and sweet tooth all in one go with Double Donut Burger. [...]
The week in brief April 27, 2014 Sony in Made in Chelsea stint Sony will become the first product placement partner for E4’s reality TV show. The deal, brokered by Mediacom and Channel 4, will see six cast members using the Xperia Z1 Compact phone. Channel 4’s Rob Ramsey said: “Xperia Z1 Compact is a perfect PP partner.. The cast are socially [...]
Bottom Line: Swann’s SSP could prosper in City’s search for quality June 16, 2014 THERE was a telling comment last week during a session held at the Royal Institution of Great Britain examining initial public offerings. “We’re going to go through a rather different period now,” EY’s Richard Hall, a veteran of last year’s bumper Royal Mail float, told an audience of private equity investors. “There are still some [...]
The week in brief April 14, 2014 OMD awarded £21m UK Disney media account OMD has won Disney’s £21m UK media planning and buying account (part of a wider review into Disney’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa). Havas Media will be responsible for local markets in Benelux, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Disney’s EMEA incumbent agency Carat is contracted [...]
MP asks clubs to cut ticket prices October 15, 2014 SPORTS minister Helen Grant has warned England’s football clubs not to take their supporters’ loyalty for granted following evidence of the growing cost of attending matches. The average price of the cheapest tickets at league clubs has risen 4.4 per cent this year – more than three times the rate of inflation – to £21.49, [...]
McDonald’s profits fall as US diners stay away April 22, 2014 MCDONALD’S has suffered another sluggish quarter of sales in its key US market, dragging group profits down, as the fast-food giant struggled with fierce competition, weak consumer spending and a cold winter. Group like-for-like sales rose 0.5 per cent but US sales fell 1.7 per cent, which the hamburger chain blamed partly yesterday on the [...]