QSR & Street Food

Pasta Remoli to debut grab & go format at St Pancras International

24-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Pasta Remoli founder Simone Remoli is opening a grab & go format of his pasta brand next month, which is promised to be the first of many for high footfall locations.

Time Out jettisons London Waterloo market

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Time Out Group has confirmed it will no longer push ahead with plans to open a food market in London Waterloo, due to the financial hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pure launches membership scheme as it prepares to reopen estate

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Health-focused grab and go brand Pure is launching a new subscription membership service, which will give users a 20% discount, to coincide with the reopening of selected sites for takeaway.

US fried chicken chain Popeyes to enter UK market with more than 300 sites planned

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

US fried chicken chain Popeyes is to launch its first UK restaurant this year as part of an expansion drive to open more than 300 sites across the country.

Chipotle heads to Chiswick

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Chipotle is to open a new London location later this summer, having taken on the former Byron restaurant Chiswick High Road.

Marugame Udon to debut on Liverpool Street

22-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The world’s largest udon noodles and tempura restaurant chain has chosen London’s Liverpool Street for its debut European location.

Tim Hortons to open drive-thru restaurant in Sheffield

19-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons is continuing with its UK expansion plans with the opening of its first drive-thru restaurant in Yorkshire.

Brighton's first food hall Shelter Hall set to open from next month

18-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Brighton’s first food hall will open fully next month having been hampered by the lockdown restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

Eggs ‘n’ Stuff to open first bricks and mortar location

17-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Eggs ‘n’ Stuff, the egg-based delivery brand from Wing Shack founder Josh Jarvis, is to open its first pop-up venue this month.

Generation Next

KERB appeal: what the future holds for the street food sector

11-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The pandemic has devastated the street food sector, but with the end of lockdown in sight, KERB duo Petra Barran and Simon Mitchell believe there’s plenty of reason for optimism.

Mercato Metropolitano to launch 'neighbourhood concept' in Canary Wharf

10-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Food market Mercato Metropolitano is to launch a new 'neighbourhood concept' in London's Canary Wharf this summer as it pushes ahead with a £35m plan for global expansion.

Island Poké secures investment to accelerate future growth

08-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Grab-and-go brand Island Poké has secured investment from Hero Brands to further accelerate its plans for growth both in the UK and internationally.

City centre dining to be lower than pre-Covid levels post pandemic, operators predict

08-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Diners will return to city centre restaurants post the pandemic, but in smaller numbers than in pre-Coronavirus times, hospitality operators are predicting.

Jollibee to invest £30m in UK expansion with 10 new openings planned this year

08-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is planning to open 10 new restaurants in the UK this year as part of a £30m expansion drive.

Fireaway pizza to double its estate to more than 100 sites this year

05-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Pizza takeaway brand Fireaway is set to double its estate to more than 100 sites this year, including opening 25 new sites in the next 25 weeks.

Promotion

Case study: KFC and Deliverect

04-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Since June 2020, KFC's Spanish and French business has been working with Deliverect to optimise its online delivery operation, which has been scaled up rapidly during the pandemic.

Wendy's plans 20 UK sites as it prepares for nationwide rollout

04-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s is 'on track' to begin opening restaurants in the UK in the coming months, with five sites expected to launch before the end of the year.

Japan Centre to extend flagship London site with new restaurant concept planned

02-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Food hall and retail destination Japan Centre is to expand its flagship site on Panton Street, close to London's Leicester Square.

Wingstop reveals locations for five new openings this year

01-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingstop will open restaurants in in Canary Wharf, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Birmingham, Bristol and Reading as part of its plans to open 10 sites in the UK this year.

Two thirds of hospitality businesses believe April reopening isn’t viable, says poll

26-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Almost two-thirds (63%) of hospitality businesses say it is not viable to reopen in April when outside trading is permitted, according to the latest Hospitality Leader’s Poll from Lumina Intelligence.

Tom Kerridge to launch vegan fast food concept

25-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Tom Kerridge is to launch a casual largely plant-based fast food concept within Camden’s Buck Street Market.

German Doner Kebab to open 47 UK restaurants this year

22-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Fast casual restaurant brand German Doner Kebab is continuing its rapid expansion with plans to open 47 new restaurants in the UK this year.

Camile Thai Kitchen to grow to 13 UK sites this year

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Thai restaurant group Camile Thai Kitchen will open seven new venues across the UK and Ireland as part of its international expansion plans.

Asian food hall Hello Oriental to open in Manchester this summer

17-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

A subterranean three-floor Asian food hall will open in Manchester’s Circle Square this summer.

Yori Korean BBQ to open two new London venues this spring

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Korean BBQ restaurant group Yori hopes to open seven new sites this year, including a new takeaway brand and a hybrid takeaway and dine-in format.

Wendy's to open in Oxford

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s has secured a site in Oxford as it pushes ahead with its plan to return to the UK after more than two decades.

Metquarter Liverpool food hall puts call out for food and beverage operators

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A new food hall in Liverpool that’s set to open at Metquarter this Spring is on the hunt for three independent food and beverage operators to sign as tenants.

Hostech: case study

Driving through efficiencies in coffee service

11-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Drive-thru technology is helping businesses improve customer service, reduce waiting times and personalise their marketing, as Costa UK has discovered

Boxpark appoints Ben McLaughlin as new COO ahead of Boxhall development

09-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Boxpark has announced the promotion of Ben McLaughlin to chief operating officer (COO) as it looks to concentrate on its growth and development of new sibling concept Boxhall.

Island Poké plans further dark kitchen expansion

09-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

London-based grab-and-go brand Island Poké has launched its fourth dark kitchen this week after seeing success in the delivery-only space last year.

Creams targets northern regions as it expands franchise operation

09-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Dessert parlour brand Creams is seeking franchise partners to help grow its portfolio across northern England and Scotland.

Shopping forecast: the latest product launches

05-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

This month's new products and services include QSR's ConnectSmart Platform and a cleanser that utilises nano technology to protect from Coronavirus for seven days

Hostech: case study

Kiosks: automatic for the people

05-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Self-Self-serve kiosks have become a regular sight in fast QSR operations as restaurant groups awaken to their benefits – and the Coronavirus pandemic has only served to expedite their uptake

The Orange Buffalo set for global expansion as it accelerates franchise plans

05-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

New York-style chicken wing brand The Orange Buffalo is accelerating plans for both national and global expansion after signing its first franchise partner in the UK.

The Halal Guys to permanently close flagship Leicester Square restaurant

04-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

US-founded fast casual chain The Halal Guys will not reopen its flagship London restaurant in Leicester Square.

Hostech: Order and pay technology

Self-service kiosks - following the lead of fast food

03-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

The QSR sector has been the quickest to adopt technology such as self-service kiosks, and are so far reaping the benefits

Chop’d acquired by Inc Retail

01-Feb-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Food-to-go operator Chop’d has been acquired by London-based retail group Inc Retail, for an undisclosed sum, in a deal which includes all 13 of its sites.

Majority of hospitality operators would prefer to delay reopening to avoid restrictions, says poll

29-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

More than three-quarters of operators would rather delay reopening their businesses in order to operate with no restrictions rather than open early with high or very high-tiered restrictions, the latest Lumina Intelligence’s Hospitality Leaders Poll has...

Thunderbird set to launch revamped brand identity as it secures former Bryon Earls Court site

29-Jan-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

London-based premium fried chicken brand Thunderbird has secured its fourth bricks and mortar site, which it will use as a platform to launch a revamped brand identity.

Mercato Metropolitano eyes global expansion as it prepares to launch three new London sites

25-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Food market Mercato Metropolitano is to open three new sites across the capital this year as part of a global £35m expansion plan.

Birmingham chef Andrew Sheridan to launch street food van

18-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Birmingham-based chef Andrew Sheridan is to launch a street food van that will serve French bistro dishes as well as putting on a number of collaborations with other well-known chefs.

Creams heads to Wales as it ramps up UK expansion

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Dessert parlour brand Creams is to make its debut in Wales later this month as it looks to accelerate its plans for further UK expansion.

Food and entertainment space Society to launch in Manchester this spring

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Food and entertainment space Society will open in Barbirolli Square in Manchester this spring.

Dom’s Subs upcycles Subway site for second London location

07-Jan-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Artisan sandwich maker Dom’s Subs is doubling up with a new site in the City of London.

McDonald’s suspends walk-in takeaway in wake of national lockdown

06-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald's is to suspend offering walk-in takeaway from its branches in the UK and Ireland in order to allow the chain time to review and reassess its safety procedures.

EggRun looks to crack London market as it eyes significant expansion

22-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

New fast casual concept EggRun is planning to open up to 15 sites in the next three years.

Creams acquired by Pistachio Holdings

21-Dec-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Dessert parlour brand Creams has been acquired by Pistachio Holdings, which is backed by Ankush Shah of the East Africa-based Sumaria Group.

Burger King offers to support small restaurants via its social channels

15-Dec-2020 By Ella Doyle

Burger King has opened its Instagram to support independent restaurants in the wake of new tier restrictions.

Tin Can Kitchen opens second Newport location with further growth planned

11-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Food delivery service Tin Can Kitchen has launched a second shipping container kitchen in Newport as it pushes ahead with plans to open the city's 'first outdoor street food court'.

Hospitality job losses hit 650,000 this year

08-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Hospitality job losses have hit 650,000 since January, however the continuation of the furlough scheme has softened the blow, the latest figures from Fourth have revealed.