This year Pret will open at least 32 stores in the UK and possibly a dozen more overseas. It will be a record roll-out programme for the chain and, coming off the back of the 36 stores it launched globally last year, supports a strategy to increase the size of its estate by around 10%…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Simon Townsend, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Inns
With some 5,000 pubs across England and Wales, Enterprise Inns is a true heavyweight outfit whose purpose is to use its scale and expertise to help great pubs prosper at the heart of local communities. The leased and tenanted business of Enterprise Inns continues to make good progress under the careful stewardship of Simon Townsend,…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Steve Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Casual Dining Group (CDG)
There is a street in Manchester on which you’ll find a Bella Italia, a La Tasca, a Belgo and a La Vinia, all within close proximity to one another and all owned by the Casual Dining Group. The prospect of inter-company sales cannibalisation would make most operators feel uncomfortable, but for CDG it perfectly encapsulates…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Neil Wickers, Chief Executive Officer, Carluccio’s
Since taking the helm at Carluccio’s, Neil Wickers has wasted no time developing the casual dining chain’s business model to ensure it remains relevant in an ever-competitive market sector. And that has meant plenty of exciting changes, including the creation of its first ever open kitchen, the roll-out of a grab-and-go format and the launch…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Alison Brittain, Chief Executive, Whitbread
As the chief executive of Whitbread, Alison Brittain holds one of the most high-profile jobs in hospitality. With a workforce of 45,000 people across more than 2,000 outlets, the London-listed outfit made pre-tax profits of £488m on sales of £2.6 billion last year, but Alison’s task is to transform the group into an ever bigger…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Phil Urban, Chief Executive, Mitchells & Butlers
Phil Urban initially joined M&B as COO but within eight months he had been promoted to the hotseat following a senior management reshuffle at the pub and restaurant giant, which knocks out around 140 million meals and 430 million drinks each year. Having previously served as managing director for Whitbread’s Pub Restaurant division during his…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Jon Hendry-Pickup, Chief Executive Officer, Prezzo
As the UK’s casual dining market gets ever-more crowded, Prezzo Holdings has put its faith in Jon Hendry-Pickup to carry the brand forward and keep it at the forefront of diners’ thinking. He can certainly bring a fresh perspective to the chain having gained 20 years’ retail and consumer experience with Travelodge and Tesco. His…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: David Wild, Chief Executive Officer, Domino’s pizza
When David Wild was appointed interim CEO of Domino’s Pizza UK two years ago it was only a matter of months before his position was made permanent, with the firm’s board calling off their recruitment search when they realised his clarity of thought around the company’s strategy — both in how to progress in the…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Martin Shuker, Managing Director, KFC UK & Ireland
With more than a decade at the helm, Martin Shuker has seen the UK fast food sector explode before his eyes but his company has embraced, rather than shirked, the challenge of defending its market share. The size of the business is startling: KFC, though its 800-plus stores, did £1 billion of sales in the…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Robin Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, YO! Sushi
YO! Sushi’s Robin Rowland picked up the ultimate ‘power’ accolade earlier this year when he was awarded an OBE for services to the restaurant and hospitality industry. “This is a huge honour, but also a major recognition for our amazing UK hospitality industry, which now leads the world in everything from innovation and operational excellence…
