Qsr - Hospitality

The Lowdown: Kricket’s Fried Chicken Challenge

10-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell hosted their inaugural Fried Chicken Challenge this week, with Black Bear Burger crowned as the capital’s chicken king.

Coco di Mama to open first regional flagship

09-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Quick-service Italian chain Coco di Mama is to open its first site outside of the capital this week on Broad Street in Reading.

Wingstop moves into retail parks

08-Feb-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Wingstop UK has announced plans to open its first standalone retail unit at Gallions Reach Retail Park in Beckton, East London, in spring 2023.

Black Bear Burger launches spin off concept 20ft Fried Chicken

19-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Black Bear Burger is to become the latest burger brand to attempt a chicken side hustle.

Pasta Evangelists unveils plans to open 800 takeaway units

19-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Pasta delivery brand Pasta Evangelists has launched its own takeaway service in London with plans for wider UK coverage later this year.

Ice cream parlour Lazy Sundae scoops second site

18-Jan-2023 By BigHospitaliy

Manchester-based dessert brand Lazy Sundae has chosen Manchester Arndale shopping centre for its second location.

Wendy’s to launch first UK drive-thru

16-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Wendy's is to open its first drive-thru location in the UK later this month as part of a new franchise deal for the East of England region.

Shake Shack continues central London push with Oxford Circus restaurant

13-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Shake Shack is boosting its presence in prime central London locations with the opening of a restaurant in Oxford Circus later this month.

Crussh secures pre-pack sale

12-Jan-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Crussh, the healthy eating food to go chain, has been acquired in a pre-pack administration deal, saving eight stores, with three closing.

Pizza Pilgrims to open Carnaby ‘Nutelleria’

10-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Pizza Pilgrims is targeting customers with a sweet tooth with the opening of a ‘Nutelleria’ outside its Kingly Court pizzeria in London’s Carnaby.

London becomes home to ‘world’s first donutelier'

10-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

The ‘world’s first donutelier’ has opened in central London in celebration of the fried dough delicacy.

Strong end to the year helps Tortilla remain 'highly resilient'

09-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Tortilla has reported a 20% rise in revenues over the past year on the back of a strong final quarter.

Harborne Kitchen chefs to launch burger restaurant The Bun & Barrel

06-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Harborne Kitchen chefs Jamie Desogus and Rob Hennebry will open burger restaurant The Bun & Barrel in Harborne this month.

Doh'hut heads to London

04-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Leeds-based doughnut brand Doh'hut is heading to the capital with up to five sites expected to open in the city this year.

Generation Next

Inside Yolk – the brand looking to disrupt London’s grab-and-go market

03-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

With his ‘fine fast food’ brand Yolk, Nick Philpot is on a mission to bring 'excitement' to convenience-led dining.

Business Profile

Slow and sticky wins the race: Andreas Karlsson on Sticks'n'Sushi

03-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Danish-owned sushi and kushiyaki specialist is celebrating the 10th birthday of its UK business with its 10th site on these shores.

Pret reaches initial agreement to open in Israel

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is continuing to step up its international expansion plans having reached an initial agreement with Fox Group and Yarzin Sella Group to introduce the brand in Israel.

Pret rows back on Veggie Pret brand

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is jettisoning the bulk of its Veggie Pret estate with four sites having closed and at least one more converted to a regular Pret store.

Little Caesars Pizza plots return to UK market with 'several' new openings planned

30-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Little Caesars, one of the world's largest pizza chains, is returning to UK shores some 22 years after exiting the market with four new restaurants planned in the coming months.

Tim Hortons reveals plans for 40 more restaurants in 2023

25-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Tim Hortons plans to double its drive-thru estate across the UK with 40 new sites planned for 2023.

Wendy's heads north as it prepares to open first UK franchise site

21-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Wendy's will open its first UK franchise site next month in Sheffield amid a push to expand into the north of the country.

Popeyes targets 20 new openings in 2023

15-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Popeyes is targeting 20 new restaurant openings in 2023, including its first drive-thru location.

UK remains ‘the big opportunity in Europe’ for Wendy's

10-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s believes UK remains 'the big opportunity in Europe' despite the impact of cost headwinds and lower sales than expected.

Street food village brand Stack wants to open two more venues

10-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

The group behind North east-based container street food brand Stack is planning on opening two new sites in County Durham.

Healthy food brand Atis to open first kiosk-only site in Canary Wharf

04-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Salad bowl brand Atis its opening its fourth venue in the capital later this month.

Coffee and sandwich shops among strongest performing channels

26-Oct-2022 By Helen Gilbert

Coffee shops, fast food, sandwich and bakery were among the strongest-performing channels between 2019-2022, the latest data from Lumina Intelligence has revealed.

Bodean's founder Andre Blais is crowdfunding to launch Gerry’s Hot Subs

20-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

Bodean's BBQ founder Andre Blais is launching premium sandwich business Gerry’s Hot Subs.

Leon announces three new London restaurants

19-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

Healthy fast food brand Leon is to open three new central London restaurants.

Tortilla sees revenues rise but profit take a hit

03-Oct-2022 By Restaurant

Tortilla has reported an increase in revenue but saw its profits take a hit, its half-year figures show.

How I Got Here: Ed Duah

28-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

The director of Hero Brands, master franchise holder of German Doner Kebab, Choppaluna and Sides, on staying true to your vision and the importance of global food variety.

Laros to open second Liverpool site

23-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

North-west based Greek restaurant group Laros is opening its second bricks and mortar restaurant in Liverpool.

Bunsik heads north to Camden for third London site

23-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Korean corn dog specialist Bunsik will open its third site in the capital next month.

Slim Chickens secures Northern Ireland foothold

21-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has secured a foothold in Northern Ireland for Slim Chickens having signed its first franchise partner in the country.

McDonald’s and Greggs set to close UK sites for Queen’s funeral

14-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

High street operators McDonald's and Greggs have both announced they will close their UK estates on Monday (19 September) for the Queen’s funeral.

Menu calorie counts could be scrapped as Government reviews anti-obesity strategy

14-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Larger hospitality businesses in England may no longer be required to display calorie counts on menus after Government ministers ordered an official review of its anti-obesity strategy.

Poke House lines up first regional site in Cambridge

08-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Poke bowl brand Poke House has chosen Cambridge as the location for its first outpost outside of the capital following a successful response to its Deliveroo Editions kitchen in the city.

You Me Sushi looking to treble its estate through franchising

02-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Sushi business You Me Sushi is looking to grow its estate three-fold in the next two years as it looks to expand through franchising.

Crepeaffaire opens Crepe & Roll concept in Primark

23-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Casual crepe concept Crepeaffaire has opened its Crepe & Roll concept at a Primark clothes stores in Kingston.

Tim Hortons to open first dark kitchen as expansion drive continues apace

19-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons is to open its first dark kitchen in London following its entrance in the capital last month.

Food hall to open in Ormskirk's former indoor market

18-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

A food and drink market is to open in Ormskirk this autumn in the space that was once home to the town’s indoor market.

Taco Bell reaches 100 UK sites

18-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant brand Taco Bell has opened it 100th UK site following 18 months of rapid growth.

Döner Shack lines up first London opening with wider plans for rollout in the capital

11-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

German street food concept Döner Shack is launch its first London outpost in late autumn, the first of four new openings planned for the capital over the next six months.

Wendy’s rolls back on UK growth targets

11-Aug-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s is now expecting to have 35 UK restaurants open by the end of 2022, down from the 50 to 60 previously spoken about in its first quarter update.

Bubblewrap to launch first international site

04-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Instagram-famous dessert brand Bubblewrap will launch its debut international franchise site later this year.

KFC faces further chicken shortages - updated

01-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

KFC has been forced to pause its WOW Tuesday offer amid warnings that the group is facing further shortages of chicken and other select products.

The Lowdown: Digital loyalty schemes

28-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The likes of McDonald’s, Burger King, Pret a Manger and Tortilla have all unveiled new rewards schemes within weeks of each other. Why?

‘Strong’ start for new Chipotle UK restaurants

28-Jul-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Chipotle chairman and CEO Brian Niccol has said the performance of the brand’s new UK restaurants is 'really strong'.

Record inflation sees McDonald’s increase price of key menu items

27-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The price of a McDonald’s cheeseburger is to increase for the first time in 14 years - from 99p to £1.19 - as the fast food giant is forced to pass on rapidly rising costs to its customers.