Qsr - Hospitality

Tortilla ends partnership with Deliveroo as commission charges ‘challenge margin performance’

15-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Tortilla has ended its partnership with Deliveroo and confirmed Uber Eats and Just Eat as its delivery partners going forwards following a review of its delivery strategy.

Burger King ads banned for 'targeting children'

09-Feb-2024 By Hannah Currie

The Advertising Standards Association (ASA) has banned a number of Burger King UK adverts, which were deemed to be targeting young children.

Neat Burger changes name and broadens menu as it enters ‘new era’

08-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Vegan QSR brand Neat Burger is to overhaul its concept, dropping the ‘Burger’ from its name and broadening its food offer as it looks to recover from recent financial challenges.

Pret scraps final Veggie sites

07-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to scrap its final Veggie Pret sites little more than a year after announcing it would be rowing back on its long-term plans for the brand.

Generation next

Could putting meat on the menu save the vegan fast-food sector?

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Plant-based QSR brands are increasingly struggling in a space once destined to be the next big thing. Now some are fighting back by putting meat on the menu.

Tortilla plans four new UK transport hubs sites with SSP

30-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Tortilla will open four new sites in transport locations this year in partnership with global food travel business SSP.

The Restaurant Report - download your free copy

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

A report that lists the top 100 casual dining and QSR brands ranked by number of sites has been published by Restaurant.

Farmer J eyes US expansion as it secures £5.5m investment

29-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Health-focused QSR brand Farmer J is planning further expansion in the capital and a move into the US market after securing a £5.5m investment.

Wingstop UK eyes 15 new sites in 2024

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Fried chicken brand Wingstop UK has announced its biggest opening pipeline since launching in the UK in 2018.

Multi-faceted dining and events space to launch at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Bar and events specialist Peppermint is to launch a multi-faceted dining and events space at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Popeyes to open first travel hub location as it ramps up expansion

22-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Popeyes will open its first travel hub restaurant this year with a site in London’s Waterloo station as part of plans that will see it double its UK estate in 2024.

Whipped London’s joins line-up at Market Halls Victoria

18-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

London-based cheesecake specialist Whipped is to take up residence in Market Halls Victoria.

Pret A Manger launches kids menu in 'major milestone'

16-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger has launched of its first full menu designed specifically for children in a bid to grow further its customer base.

Little Caesars Pizza plans ‘multiple new sites’ as it launches second UK location

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

US pizza brand Little Caesars has opened its second UK outpost in Top Valley, Nottingham, as it gears up for a ‘year of growth’.

Prezzo plots move into QSR with takeaway pasta concept

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Prezzo is plotting a move in the QSR market with the development of a takeaway pasta concept that will have branches in UK train stations.

TDR Capital takes controlling stake in Popeyes UK

11-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

TDR Capital has increased its shareholding in Popeyes UK, the fast-growing fried chicken brand.

STACK receives investment to accelerate growth

04-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Leisure venue operator STACK has received investment from Kings Park Capital (KPC) to accelerate its growth of entertainment venues.

Jollibee eyes UK growth despite growing losses

04-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Jollibee has set out plans to ‘significantly increase’ its UK presence by 2028, despite seeing its losses widen in its latest financial results.

Wingers signs 30 site development deal

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie

Buttermilk fried chicken concept Wingers has signed a 30 site development deal for West London and the Thames Valley.

Benito’s returns to expansion trail with first franchised site

14-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Mexican burrito brand Benito’s is returning to the expansion trail this month with the launch of its first franchised site in the departure lounge of London Luton Airport.

HMRC targets takeaways over electronic till fraud

13-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

More than 20 takeaways and restaurants in Edinburgh, London, St Helens and Stoke have been subject to unannounced visits as part of a crackdown on electronic till fraud.

Westfield Stratford City to become home to the largest Wingstop in the UK

08-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK is to open its largest site yet at Westfield Stratford City in London in early 2024.

The Lowdown: CosMc’s

08-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

McDonald’s is launching a spin-off brand that appears to have Starbucks and its ilk in its cross-hairs.

KFC to acquire 218 restaurants from EG Group

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

KFC is to acquire more than 200 restaurants from EG Group, its largest franchisee in the UK and Ireland.

Karma Kitchen gears up for further expansion following 'landmark year'

05-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Dark kitchen operator Karma Kitchen is targeting further growth following what it describes as a 'landmark year'.

Frequency of dining out occasions flatlines in October despite rise in consumer confidence

29-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

A combination of poor weather and financial strains led to the frequency of dining out occasions flatlining in October, research from Lumina Intelligence’s latest Eating & Drinking Out Panel shows.

Knoops targeting 200 sites following milestone fundraise

28-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Artisanal hot chocolate café concept Knoops is looking to grow its estate to 200 sites nationwide in the medium term following a milestone £8.3m fundraise.

Burger King appoints Lance Batchelor as new chair

27-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Burger King UK has announced that Lance Batchelor will join the group's board and be appointed chair from 1 December 2023.

KFC launches partnership with Uber Direct to boost in-house delivery channel

23-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

KFC UK & Ireland has launched an exclusive partnership with Uber Direct in order to further enhance its own delivery channel.

'Macro pressures' force Neat Burger to halve its UK estate

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Neat Burger, the vegan fast food concept backed by Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio, is to close half of its UK estate amid large-scale financial pressures.

Rosa’s Thai named Restaurant Group of the Year

22-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Restaurant groups Rosa’s Thai and Flat Iron were the big winners at the annual R200 Awards, which were held last night in London.

Subway set to introduce self-order kiosks into UK sites

20-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Subway is to introduce self-order kiosks into UK sites for the first time as it looks to enhance its digital experience.

Which Wich makes another play for UK expansion

20-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

US-founded sandwich chain Which Wich is making another play for expansion across the UK through a newly launched sub-franchising model.

The Halal Guys to open in north London

15-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

US-founded fast casual chain The Halal Guys will open a site in London’s Wood Green, bringing its estate in the capital back up to two sites.

UK restaurant market growth remains behind pubs and fast food as outlet decline hinders recovery

15-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The UK restaurant market is forecast to grow by 5.2% to a value of £18.7bn in 2023, the latest Lumina Intelligence Restaurant Market Report shows.

Joe & The Juice acquired by General Atlantic

14-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Joe & The Juice is set to be acquired by New York-based investment firm General Atlantic, with plans for growth across the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Urban Greens chooses Kensington for fourth location

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Salad brand Urban Greens will open its fourth location in the capital next year, in Kensington.

McDonald's UK boss summoned to Parliament over allegations of ‘toxic’ workplace culture

10-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow is to face questions from MPs amid growing allegations of a ‘toxic work environment’ in its UK restaurants.

The Lowdown: McDonald’s and the pro-Palestinian protestors

03-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

McDonald’s has found itself the target of apparently pro-Palestinian protests this week with activists releasing rodents into several of its UK restaurants.

Glenn Edwards departs Leon

02-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Leon managing director Glenn Edwards is stepping down from his role.

R200 Awards 2023 shortlists revealed

01-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The shortlists have been revealed for the R200 Awards being held later this month.

Asda to introduce Leon brand into its stores

01-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The Leon brand will be found within Asda supermarkets in the future following the supermarket's acquisition of EG Group’s UK business for £2bn.

Taco Bell triumphs in US ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark fight

30-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Taco Bell has won a lengthy legal battle in the US to cancel trademark restrictions on the popular marketing phrase ‘Taco Tuesday’.

KFC ends Deliveroo partnership to focus on 'better commercials' with other aggregators

26-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

KFC has ended its partnership with Deliveroo to focus its efforts on other delivery channels, including its own.

Pret looks to accelerate US expansion through new joint venture

20-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to accelerate its expansion in the US through a new joint venture (JV) with existing franchisee, Dallas International.

I am Döner signs first London franchise

04-Oct-2023 By Hannah Currie

I am Döner will open its first site in London after signing its first franchise deal in the capital.

McDonald’s and Wendy’s triumph in US lawsuit over burger size

03-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

McDonald’s and Wendy’s have defeated a New York lawsuit that accused them of misleading diners over the size of their burgers in a case that could potentially have ramifications for similar trials in the US.