QSR & Street Food

High street chains pause business in Russia

09-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

High street hospitality chains including McDonald's, Starbucks and Pizza Hut have announced they will pause business in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Indie-focused food hall to launch in Welwyn Garden City next year

09-Mar-2022 By Joe Lutrario

A food hall and arts hub with a mix of kiosks and open bars will launch on the brownfield site that was once home to Welwyn Garden City’s Shredded Wheat Factory next year.

High street chains face boycott for continuing to trade in Russia

08-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

High street hospitality chains including McDonald's and Starbucks are facing increasing threats of boycotts over their ongoing operations in Russia.

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It takes two to taco - Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes on bringing Santo Remedio back to Shoreditch

07-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes have brought their beloved London-based Mexican restaurant Santo Remedio back to Shoreditch, a move they say will see the brand ‘return to its roots’.

Just Eat launches initiative to tackle chip wastage in takeaway food

07-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

Just Eat has launched an initiative to reduce chip portion sizes in venues after a study found that chips are the most wasted takeaway food.

Stephen Tozer: “Kebabs transcend a lot of different environments”

04-Mar-2022 By Joe Lutrario

London's Le Bab is gearing up for a major growth spurt, with two bricks and mortar sites and a further concession set to open over the next few months.

Wendy’s sets out 2022 UK expansion plans

03-Mar-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Wendy’s chief executive Todd Penegor has told analysts the company is 'very pleased' with its launch in the UK as he set out the group's UK expansion plans for 2022.

Myungrang Hot Dog to make its UK debut in Islington

02-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

London’s burgeoning Korean hot dog scene is getting a new player in the form of Myungrang Hot Dog.

Zaap Thai arrives in Sheffield

01-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Street food brand Zaap Thai is to launch its sixth restaurant this spring having secured a site in Sheffield.

Market Halls to launch in Canary Wharf

21-Feb-2022 By Joe Lutrario

London-based group Market Halls will finally launch its new 20,000 sq ft location opposite Canary Wharf’s upcoming Crossrail station late next month.

Roti King and Le Bab among next clutch of operators announced for Battersea Power Station

21-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Malaysian street food brand Roti King and new wave kebab operator Le Bab are among the next clutch of restaurants set to take up residency at Battersea Power Station, London.

Pizza Pilgrims to rebrand its Finsbury Park Slice restaurant

21-Feb-2022 By Restaurant

Pizza Pilgrims is turning its Slice venue in Finsbury Park into one of its standard pizza restaurants.

Sourced Market shuts up shop after entering liquidation

18-Feb-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Healthy deli and dining brand Sourced Market has gone into liquidation, with all three of its sites understood to have shut.

YouTube stars to open first bricks and mortar site for Sides

17-Feb-2022 By Restaurant

Virtual fried chicken concept Sides will open its first bricks and mortar venue this month in Boxpark Wembley.

Three Uncles to launch first permanent restaurant next month in Brixton

16-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Cantonese roast meat specialist Three Uncles is to launch its first permanent, sit-down restaurant early next month in Brixton Village, London.

Maray heads to Manchester for biggest site yet

15-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Liverpool-based restaurant group Maray is expanding outside of its hometown for the first time later this year with a new site in Manchester that will be its biggest to date.

Jollibee lines up double opening as it prepares for Scottish debut

14-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is finally set to make its debut in Scotland with openings in Edinburgh and Glasgow planned within the space of a month.

How I Got Here: Anmarie Spaziano

08-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

The American-born founder of Annie’s Burger Shack, which has sites in Nottingham and Derby, on bringing a taste of New England to Britain, and why hospitality is her dream job.

KERB to launch bar and test kitchen in Shoreditch

07-Feb-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Street food collective KERB is to launch a bar and test kitchen in Shoreditch that is designed to support emerging industry talent.

SSP reports group revenues at 62% of 2019 levels

04-Feb-2022 By Restaurant

Food and drink travel hub business SSP says that its group revenues were at around 62% of 2019 levels for the four-month period to 30 January 2022, as the impact of Covid on the travel sector continued to bite.

People on the move: January 2022

28-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

A round-up of some of the key new hospitality appointments this month.

Hotbox to close Spitalfields restaurant after investors pull out

28-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Smokehouse group Hotbox is to close its only bricks and mortar restaurant in London's Spitalfields this weekend.

Marsha to double up with new Soho site

27-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Sustainability-focused chicken brand Marsha is to launch a second London restaurant next month having secured a site at Carnaby Street’s Kingly Court in Soho.

How I Got Here: Rachel Hugh

26-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder of vegan burger group The Vurger Co on why she gave up a career in fashion to run restaurants, and her vision of changing the fast-food world.

Ready to grow: the vegan burger brand taking on the fast-food giants

25-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Emerging brand Ready Burger is looking to bring plant-based cuisine more into the mainstream than ever before.

Boxpark on the expansion trail following 'rapid recovery' after lockdowns

25-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Street food operator Boxpark plans to open two to three sites a year over the next five years, according to its latest financial filings.

Döner Shack to make Scottish debut

25-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

German street food concept Döner Shack is set to make its debut in Scotland in the coming months having secured a site at Glasgow’s Silverburn shopping centre.

Hot chocolate brand Knoops to open its seventh venue

20-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Growing hot chocolate brand Knoops will open its seventh venue next month.

Fridays and Go to debut in Dundee

19-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Fridays has confirmed it will launch its first QSR site in March in Dundee, Scotland, with an aim to open up to 30 additional sites.

How I Got Here: Tim Vasilakis

19-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The founder and CEO of Greek street food player The Athenian on building his business, his love of Leon, and why delivery kitchens need to have collection hubs for customers.

Venue Group relocates Flat Iron Square

18-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Venue Group, the London-based company backed by Mumford & Sons founding member Ben Lovett, has relocated Flat Iron Square to the site previously occupied by St Felix Place in Borough.

Poke House mulls UK IPO

18-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Italian poke chain Poke House is mulling an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the next two years as part of its plans for aggressive expansion.

Salad bowl brand Choppaluna to open second UK restaurant

17-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Hero Brands is to open a second venue of its healthy food concept Choppaluna in the UK.

McDonald’s pilots new customer rewards scheme

13-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

McDonald’s is launching a rewards scheme that will enable customers to collect points on their purchases and redeem them against menu items or make a charity donation.

Tortilla reports 'strong trading momentum' as it sees like-for-like growth up 23%

10-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Tortilla has reported a like-for-like sales increase of 23.8% in the 2021 financial year compared to 2019, with group revenue up 36% across the same period.

Sessions Market announces £7.3m Series A raise

05-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Food hall operator Sessions Market has raised $10m (£7.3m) in Series A funding.

Korean style corn dog sensation Bunsik to open second site

04-Jan-2022 By Stefan Chomka

Korean style corn dog restaurant Bunsik is doubling up in the capital with the opening of a second venue in Embankment.

Ugly Dumpling lines up second restaurant

14-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

London street food trader Ugly Dumpling is to open a second restaurant early next month on Rathbone Place in Fitzrovia.

Mercato Metropolitano MD to step down

10-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

The managing director of food market group Mercato Metropolitano, Amedeo Claris, is to step down from his role.

Wind power, recycled tyres, potato glue: McDonald’s opens its first UK net zero carbon restaurant

10-Dec-2021 By Restaurant

McDonald’s is flexing its sustainable credentials with the opening today (10 December) of its first UK net zero carbon restaurant.

Edinburgh's Matto Pizza to launch 'first dedicated restaurant'

07-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Edinburgh-based Neapolitan pizza brand Matto Pizza is to launch its 'first dedicated restaurant' later this month in the city’s Morningside neighbourhood.

How I Got Here: Télémaque Argyriou

01-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

The founder of contemporary Greek restaurant Kalimera in London's Crouch End on building his business, and why the sector is too attached to the big delivery companies.

Itsu to make its European debut

29-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

Itsu will make its European debut with the opening of a restaurant in Belgium.

YouTube’s the Sidemen launch virtual fried chicken brand

25-Nov-2021 By Joe Lutrario

YouTube content creators the Sidemen have become the latest celebrities to put their name to a virtual fried chicken concept.

SpiceBox launches second crowdfund ahead of third London opening

23-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Vegan curry house concept SpiceBox has launched a new crowdfunding campaign ahead of plans to open a third London restaurant early next year.

Latest opening: Popeyes

22-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

The UK has another fried chicken player, this time in the form of US giant Popeyes.

October half term leads to rise in eating out frequency and spend

22-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

Eating out frequency, penetration and average spend all increased in the four weeks ending 31 October, according to the latest data from Lumina Intelligence’s Eating & Drinking Out Panel.

Chaiiwalla to roll out in London

19-Nov-2021 By Andrew Don

South Asian street food franchise Chaiiwalla is gearing up to make its London debut as it targets 230 UK locations by the end of 2024.

Clean Kitchen Club plots expansion following £1.4m seed round

16-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Plant-based concept Clean Kitchen Club is targeting nationwide expansion having recently raised £1.4m in a seed round.

Advisors appointed for Burger King UK float

15-Nov-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Burger King UK’s backer Bridgepoint has appointed Bank of America and Investec to advise on the floatation of the fast food giant during the first half of 2022.