Two-fifths of consumers would support a cap on the number of chains opening on UK high streets, new research released today has claimed. London-based foodtech company GoKart said that half of Brits are now concerned their local high street is being taken over by chains at the expense of independents, following a poll it carried…
Digital dominates for Domino’s as online orders drive bulk of sales
Nearly 80% of Domino’s sales were made online during the first quarter of the year as customers increasingly chose to engage with it without even speaking to a member of staff. Orders through its digital platforms climbed 16% for the three months to 1 April, representing 79% of total sales. Overall UK sales rose 11%…
Business rates data exposes why chains are begging landlords to slash rents
Restaurant and casual dining chains are joining retailers in their struggles against the “onerous” business rates regime, with some fall-out in the high street highly likely, Colliers International has said. With the negative impact of the 2017 Rating Revaluation hitting casual dining chains, the property agency said that rising rates had “substantially” added to their…
ANALYSIS: YO! Sushi splashes the cash to create a sushi restaurant superpower
YO! Sushi recently dipped into its war-chest and spent £59m to create the world’s largest sushi chain. FEJ looks at what lies ahead for the rapidly-growing foodservice chain. With more than 70 stores in the UK, YO! Sushi is an entrenched fixture on the British high street. But in what is the latest high-profile example of…
British foodservice industry to grow by 83 million visits in 2018
The British foodservice industry should grow by an additional 83 million visits in 2018 (up +0.7% on 2017), despite stagnant wage growth and high inflation. New forecasts, released yesterday by the NPD Group, also suggest that in 2019 visits in the eat-out or out-of-home (OOH) market could grow by a further 93 million (up…
Wahaca planning to open public-facing test kitchen
Wahaca has confirmed that it plans to open a new test kitchen with a difference later this month – customers will be able to trial and review dishes before they are rolled out across its estate. The site in Shoreditch, which forms part of a 120-cover restaurant, is due to open on Monday 27…
Pub chain Marston’s drives down utility costs by securing self-supply water licence
Pub chain Marston’s, which operates more than 1,600 sites across the UK, has been granted a self-supply licence to supply its own water and wastewater services. It is the third company in England to be granted a self-supply licence by regulator Ofwat. Whitbread and Greene King are the other two companies with the same privilege.…
Subway franchise rival plants flag in UK market
A US rival to Subway that is owned by a franchise group boasting 1,400 stores globally is about to set foot in the UK for the first time. Jon Smith Subs has teamed up with United Franchise Group (UFG) to “fast-track” its global expansion and will open its debut UK store in Kingston in early 2018. It…
Mowgli swings into Birmingham’s Grand Central with fourth site
An authentic Indian street food chain has taken its restaurant tally up to four with the launch of a site in Birmingham’s Grand Central. Mowgli, which was founded in 2014 by barrister and food writer, Nisha Katona, is currently operating in two Liverpool venues as well as one in Manchester. The debut opening for Birmingham…
Le Pain Quotidien equipment trial could result in chain saving thousands
High street chain Le Pain Quotidien has said it is “pleased” with the outcome of a refrigeration trial that could end up saving it thousands of pounds in running costs a year if it chooses to roll it out across multiple sites. The company, which operates 28 outlets and made sales of £38m last year,…
