KERB launches campaign to support independents
KERB, the food hall operator, has launched a campaign to support the industry and spotlight the pressure on operators’ margins.
QSR & Street Food
Dave’s Hot Chicken forced to temporarily close UK restaurants after giveaway goes gangbusters
A recent giveaway by Dave’s Hot Chicken to coincide with investor rapper Drake’s birthday led to police temporarily closing the group’s restaurants in London, Birmingham and Liverpool due to overcrowding, the company has revealed.
Popeyes UK reaches 100 restaurants
Popeyes UK is on the cusp of reaching its 100 restaurant milestone in the UK.
Pasta la vista: unravelling the UK’s pasta restaurant sector
The simple combination of flour and eggs has become big business in the dining sector over the past decade with the rise of the pasta-focused restaurant.
Gracey’s opens at Arcade Food Hall Tottenham Court Road
East Coast US pizza player Gracey’s has opened a new concession at Arcade Food Hall Tottenham Court Road, building on its success at the food hall concept’s sister site in Battersea Power Station.
Yolk reduces its London estate as CVA gets approval
London-based ‘fine fast food’ brand Yolk has seen its estate reduced from 10 sites to seven following a trio of closures having undergone a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Chaiiwala enters deal with Splendid Hospitality Group to boost expansion in the northeast
Chaiiwala is expanding its presence in Nottingham under a new franchise partnership with Splendid Hospitality Group (SHG).
Greggs goes ‘Bitesize’ with new smaller format
Greggs has launched a smaller ‘Bitesize’ format aimed at customers in high-footfall areas.
Yard Sale Pizza appoints CEO to drive growth plans
Yard Sale Pizza has appointed Stephen Hollis as CEO to help the Piper-backed business achieve its ambitious growth plans.
Are drinks really the way to Gen Z diners’ hearts?
The surge in popularity of drinks such as matcha and bubble tea among younger consumers has led QSR brands to give their beverage offers a glow up. Is it enough to entice them into their venues?
McDonald’s to introduce further measures to protect staff from sexual harassment
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has extended its legal agreement with McDonald’s UK to protect its staff from sexual harassment.
Papa Johns UK records strongest quarter since Covid
Papa Johns UK has recorded its strongest quarter since the pandemic, with sales seeing high single-digit growth in Q3 2025.
KFC UK & Ireland reports strong summer sales performance
KFC UK & Ireland has reported an increase in sales for the third quarter of the year.
Italian sandwich brand Dal Fiorentino launches fourth London site
Florence-inspired gourmet sandwich business Dal Fiorentino has chosen Holborn for its fourth London site.
Kwenching the thirst of Gen Z: KFC opens first site under its new drinks-led brand
KFC has opened its first site under its drinks-led Kwench brand, in Liverpool’s city centre.
Deliveroo reveals most popular delivery items of 2025
A London-based bagel shop is responsible for the most ordered takeaway item on Deliveroo this year, the delivery company has revealed.
Leon reacquired by its co-founder John Vincent as healthy fast food business “returns to its core values”
Healthy fast food brand Leon has been reacquired by its co-founder and former CEO John Vincent in a play to reinvigorate the 71-strong business and return it to its core values.
Sandwich Sandwich to open its first grab-and-go format
Sandwich Sandwich will open its first site in London dedicated to pre-made grab and go products before the end of the year.
Spud wars: jacket potato brands get into a dispute over naming rights
Viral jacket potato brand SpudBros has been accused of ‘throwing its weight around’ after it threatened a rival potato player with legal action over its name.
Emma Woods to step down as Tortilla chair
Emma Woods is to step down from her role as non-executive chair of Tortilla at the end of the year.
Supernova opens third London site in Mayfair
BVC Hospitality has launched a third site of its Supernova burger brand in London.
Pilot programme launches to find West Midland’s next street food stars
Up to 36 street food businesses in the West Midlands will receive free training, mentoring, and live trading opportunities as part of a new six-month programme to develop the next generation of traders.
HOP chooses King’s Cross for sixth UK site
Vietnamese QSR brand HOP will open a restaurant in London’s King’s Cross in late November, bringing its total number of UK locations to six.
Supa Ya to make its comeback at Arcade food hall
Cult supper club Supa Ya is making a return to the capital a year after closing its final restaurant.
SushiDog to expand outside of London next year with Birmingham site
SushiDog will open its first site outside of the capital next year with a move into the Midlands.
Gerry’s Hot Subs completes fundraise as it eyes two more locations
Gerry’s Hot Subs has successfully closed a £250,000 fundraising round as it looks to build its presence in the premium sandwich market, with several new openings on the cards.
The Wet Burgers is bringing its Istanbul burgers to Soho for a three-day pop-up
Turkish style burger brand The Wet Burgers is making its first presence in bricks and mortar with a three-day pop-up in Soho.
B Bagel to open seventh London site as it edges towards its target of 20 locations by 2030
Bagel brand B Bagel has revealed plans to operate 20 sites by 2030, trebling its current portfolio.
Market Place to open vast new five-storey food hall in Leicester Square
Food hall operator Market Place is opening what is says is one of the largest and most ambitious food halls in the UK.
David Wolanski: “Closing Chick’n’Sours brought us back into the limelight”
Having closed Chick’n’Sours’ final restaurants earlier this year, David Wolanski has pivoted his business to a more nimble model focused on events, residencies and licensing.
My Favourite Sandwich to double up in London with Soho site
Elevated sandwich shop My Favourite Sandwich will open a second London site, in Soho, later this month.
Chaiiwala’s global sales approach £90m as appetite for Indian street food increases
Indian street food and café Chaiiwala has reported a global sales jump of more than a third as turnover nearly hits £90m.
Wendy’s UK sees turnover rise
Wendy’s UK has reported a rise in turnover after bolstering its company-owned restaurant estate.
Chicken Cottage hits 2025 new site target
Chicken Cottage has hit its target of opening 10 new locations this year.
Famed pizzeria Vincenzo’s is opening a site in Shoreditch
Tom Vincent is bringing his trademark pizzas to Shoreditch this autumn with the opening of a slice shop.
Pasta Evangelists continues expansion as losses increase
Pasta Evangelists saw its revenues increase below the rate of inflation in 2024 as losses widened.
Popeyes ‘well positioned to achieve growth ambitions’ as turnover tops £100m
Popeyes UK says it is on track to reach 100 sites by the end of the year, which will include its first-ever location in the Republic of Ireland.
Tortilla forecasts ‘most profitable year’ as UK sales increase
Tortilla has recorded a sales increase of 5% in UK like-for-like sales and record UK ebitda in its unaudited interim results for the 26 weeks to 29 June 2025.
Wingstop UK toasts record results as turnover and profits soar
Wingstop UK has described 2024 as a ‘transformational year’ for the business with pre-tax profits more than tripling and turnover soaring past the £100m mark.
Phil Howard to launch fast casual version of Notto in the City
Phil Howard is set to open a fast-casual version of his pasta restaurant Notto at Broadgate this November, following the success of the brand’s sites in Piccadilly and Covent Garden.
Covent Garden to welcome a trio of cafes and bakeries
A trio of bakeries and cafés will open in Covent Garden this autumn.
Velvet Taco to open in London’s Broadgate Circle in November
US Taco brand Velvet Taco will open its first site on UK soil this November in London’s Broadgate Circle.
Gourmet doughnut brand Longboys closes blaming spiralling costs
Chef Graham Hornigold has announced the closure of his gourmet doughnut brand Longboys.
The Sushi Co to open seven sites before the year end
The Sushi Co will open seven new sites by the end of 2025, taking the brand to 30 sites across the UK.
Leeds’ Silver’s Deli named the 2025 Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year
Silver’s Deli in Leeds has been named the 2025 Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year.
The Salad Project to launch matcha bar with new Notting Hill site
The Salad Project’s forthcoming site in London’s Notting Hill will feature a dedicated matcha bar, as the group looks to capitalise on the rising popularity of the green tea-based beverage.
Lebanese street food brand Mayyil heads to Kingston for third UK site
Lebanese street food brand Mayyil is set to open the doors to its third London restaurant later this month.
German Doner Kebab launches value menu as battle for QSR lunchtime trade intensifies
German Done Kebab (GDK) has waded into the war for lunchtime trade with a new value menu.
Blend Family to reinvent Digbeth’s Custard Factory into new food hall
Food hall operator Blend Family is to redevelop the Custard Factory site in Birmingham.
Creams launches direct delivery platform
Dessert brand Creams Cafe has launched a new direct delivery platform that it says is ‘designed to boost franchisee profitability and strengthen operational efficiency’.