Thunderbird Fried Chicken moves into Nashville-style space
Thunderbird Fried Chicken has become the latest brand to tap into the popularity of Nashville-style chicken.
QSR & Street Food
Beef inflation and challenging trading hits Five Guys profits and like-for-likes
Five Guys Europe has reported another fall in EBITDA in its 2025 results.
Subway reveals new blueprint to help double its footprint in EMEA
Subway has unveiled a new blueprint amid plans to double its footprint across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to 10,000 restaurants within five years.
Farmer J reports 50% increase in revenue
Farmer J has reported around a 50% increase in revenue driven by new openings and continued like-for-like sales growth.
Slim Chickens to open first UK drive-thru
Fried chicken brand Slim Chickens is joining the raft of QSR players moving into the drive-thru space.
Jersey Mike’s confirms three further London locations
US-born sub brand Jersey Mike’s has confirmed three further central London sites ahead of its UK debut next month.
Chickpea Group is opening a roadside deli that will serve Max Halley’s sandwiches
South West pub operator Chickpea Group will open a new deli and provisions store on the A303 near Chicklade, Wiltshire, next year.
Market Halls reports ‘standout’ first quarter and summer trading
Market Halls says it had a ‘standout’ first quarter and summer trading period, delivering like-for-like growth across its bars and trader partners.
Momo & Co to open third London site at Tower Bridge Road
Momo & Co, the Himalayan street food restaurant brand, will open its third London location at Tower Bridge Road later this week.
Coqfighter announces new Canary Wharf location
Fried chicken brand Coqfighter has announced plans to open a new location in Canary Wharf next month.
Popeyes sees revenue soar as expansion continues
Popeyes UK saw its revenue increase by 50% to a record £178 driven by the addition of almost 50 new restaurants, its latest accounts reveal.
Gopal’s Corner to open first site outside the capital in Birmingham
Sugen Gopal is moving his Malaysian Tamil restaurant group Gopal’s Corner beyond the capital with a site in Birmingham.
Comment
Sushi is on a roll, and I’m down with that
In a difficult market, but one that demands sushi and at least some of the elegance that comes with it, sushi handrolls make sense.
Atis moves into wraps
Atis is expanding its offer with the launch of a range of wraps from next month.
Co-op axes its standalone On The Go format
Co-op Group has axed its standalone On The Go operation, closing all five locations as it focuses on expanding the concept within its existing estate.
Manchester’s Medlock Square development to be home to new food hall
A new food hall will open next month as part of Manchester’s new £300m Medlock Square development.
Salad days: unboxing the UK’s healthy QSR market
The market for healthy QSR salad brands is in fine fettle, but it remains a London-centric sector.
Renshaw Street Food Market expands line-up with three new vendors
Renshaw Street Food Market in Liverpool has expanded its food offer with the arrival of Aapli Mumbai Street Food, SHINTAKO and K-Kitchen.
Technology
Popeyes Rewards attracts 100,000 sign ups in the first week of launch
More than 100,000 customers signed up to Popeyes’ loyalty programme in the first week, the company has revealed.
Technology
Chaiiwala launches digital loyalty platform
Chaiiwala has launched a digital loyalty platform that allows customers to earn stamps on purchases and redeem free food and drinks.
Market Place Food Hall reveals traders for Victoria Station opening
Market Place Food Hall has revealed the full list of traders for its upcoming site at London Victoria Station set to open on Friday 16 October.
Golden BBQ and Pizza Crew among Just Eat’s best UK takeaway spots
Food delivery platform Just Eat has named nine independent businesses in its list of the UK’s best takeaways, including Golden BBQ in Cardiff and Pizza Crew in Belfast.
La Maritxu to bring its Basque-style cheesecakes to the Cotswolds
London-born cheesecake brand La Maritxu will open its first location outside London next month.
Randy’s Donuts to make UK debut
US chain Randy’s Donuts is set to make UK debut in Scotland having secured a site in Edinburgh city centre.
Burgerism to open first permanent site outside Manchester
Smashed burger brand Burgerism is to open a restaurant in Meanwood, Leeds, later this month.
Comment
Can Jersey Mike’s really take a bite out of Subway?
North America’s second-largest sub sandwich chain is preparing to make its European debut in London, hoping to succeed where numerous US rivals - including Potbelly and Jon Smith Subs - have failed.
Burger King UK ventures further into the chicken category with chicken tenders
Burger King UK is launching chicken tenders nationwide from 15 September as it looks to capitalise on increasing demand for poultry products.
Bon Bao launches Soho counter
A new bao counter has opened in Soho, providing grab-and-go way to experience the Chinese dish.
Why casual dining and QSR are waking up to the morning daypart
The first meal of the day is emerging as an increasingly attractive opportunity, with operators from ramen bars to fried chicken brands looking to enter the breakfast business.
US sub sandwich brand Jersey Mike’s to make European debut in Soho later this year
US sub sandwich brand Jersey Mike’s will make its European debut in Soho later this year, with three further London locations set to follow ahead of a wider UK rollout.
Can the culture wars be used to fuel the rise of a restaurant group?
Austin’s Dad is using dog-whistle politics and anti-‘woke’ ragebait to generate interest ahead of its bricks-and-mortar debut, which its relentless social media output suggests is imminent.
Fireaway Pizza enters convenience store sector with new format
Fireaway Pizza has launched its first-ever concession within a convenience store as it looks to further grow its brand.
Houston Hot Chicken confirms second UK site
US restaurant brand Houston Hot Chicken will open its second UK site at the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury, near Russell Square, this winter.
Arcade-backed burger brand Manna to launch debut standalone site
Feroz Gajia and Arcade London’s smash burger concept Manna will open its first standalone UK location in Marylebone later this week.
Popeyes launches first-ever loyalty programme
Popeyes UK has launched its first-ever loyalty programme, allowing customers to earn points on purchases made online and in its restaurants.
One of London’s top taquerias to close
Stoke Newington’s Sonora Taqueria has announced it is to close despite having had what it says was its most successful year to date.
“5 Boroughs is back”: Winchester pizzeria makes dramatic return
New York-inspired pizzeria 5 Boroughs Pizza in Winchester will reopen just a month after its owners announced it was to close for good.
Cantoast Bakery extends its Marylebone residency
Hong Kong-inspired Cantoast Bakery is extending its residency in Marylebone until the end of the year.
Thai Square launches Thai pizza concept
London-centric restaurant group Thai Square has launched a Thai-inspired pizza concept.
Sugar rush: inside the UK’s growing dessert market
With a flurry of concepts entering the market and established players continuing to expand, the UK’s dessert sector is developing into a sizeable and increasingly diverse category.
Professor Green’s Proper Good to launch in London
Rapper Professor Green is expanding his fast food brand Proper Good to London following the launch of its first location in Glasgow earlier this year.
Banana pudding brand Buttercup goes permanent
Viral Manchester dessert brand Buttercup Pudding Bar will open its first standalone site in the city this autumn.
Sessions buys Little Bao Boy as it looks to international expansion
Restaurant growth platform Sessions has bought existing brand partner Little Bao Boy with plans to take the brand internationally.
A Michelin-starred chef has brought Korean fried chicken to London Bridge
The chef behind Michelin-starred Korean restaurant Sollip has brought a new Korean fried chicken concept to the capital.
Fat Phill’s chooses Sutton for third London restaurant
Netherlands-based burger brand Fat Phill’s has opened its third London restaurant, in Sutton.
Little Caesars quietly closes sole remaining UK site
Little Caesars has quietly closed its only operating UK site in Greenford, west London, leaving its future plans on these shores in doubt.
Chaiiwala opens first Welsh motorway café
Chaiiwala has opened an express-format café at Roadchef Magor on the M4, marking the brand’s first motorway location in Wales.
Harry Ramsden’s creates new ‘hut’ format to strengthen its presence in the capital
Harry Ramsden’s has gone back to it early roots with the creation of a hut-style format targeting high footfall city locations.
Animal welfare activists target Pret A Manger store launch
Animal welfare activists have targeted the launch of a new Pret A Manger store in Rainham, Greater London, by depositing a car-sized Pret wrap with a giant ‘frankenchicken’ stuffed inside.
Austin’s Dad sparks controversy with plans to employ only young men
The challenger pizza brand connected to Gregg Wallace has sparked controversy after saying it wants to employ only disadvantaged young men.