Latest / Hospitality News Briefing / Tuesday 22 September: Wahaca plots expansion return as late-night venues see first growth in two years
Transcript
- This is the Ops Club Hospitality News Briefing for Tuesday the twenty second of September. Here is what the UK trade press reported this morning, collated for operators. Today we are looking at Wahaca plotting a return to expansion as new data shows the late night sector is finally seeing its first growth in two years. First, the numbers and trading news. Propel reports that Wahaca is targeting regional growth following an eighteen month reset. Chief executive Gemma Glasson confirmed the fourteen site Mexican group will restart expansion next year after securing new investment from Risk Capital. The brand has moved away from its market style roots toward an elevated accessible premium model to better handle current economic pressures. For operators, this shows how a deliberate rebasing of a brand identity can attract fresh capital even in a tough market. Also in Propel, the Popeyes loyalty scheme has hit one hundred thousand members in just one week. The TDR Capital backed brand surpassed internal targets within seven days of launching its first digital rewards programme. On to who is buying what. The Caterer reports that Giggling Squid has acquired Thai Express out of administration. We also hear from The Caterer that BrewDog lacks the funds to settle multi million pound debts. The Scottish brewer reported it currently has insufficient capital to repay outstanding liabilities worth millions. Next, a look at new openings. Propel reports that the Chinese giant Dumpling Xi is making its central London debut. Meanwhile, The Caterer reports that Pret is planning one hundred new store openings next year, accelerating its physical expansion with a target of a hundred new locations throughout twenty twenty seven. Back to Propel, La Maritxu is bringing Basque cheesecake to Bicester Village. The London based specialist will open its first site outside the capital this October as a regional proof of concept. A few moves to note. Marstons is splitting its estate into five divisions for a southern push, as reported by Propel. The pub operator is moving from three to five regional divisions to better manage its one thousand three hundred sites, specifically targeting growth in the South and Wales. Former Co op and Honest Burgers leads Jo Hall and Lee Nixon have joined the senior team to head these new territories. This restructuring suggests large pub groups are pivoting back to high touch regional management to drive local performance. Also, The Caterer reports that Creative Restaurant Group has named Milena Floyd as CEO to lead its next phase of development. In other industry news, Gwynedd council has shelved its tourism tax plans after a major backlash. As The Caterer reports, proposed overnight levies for hotels and campsites have been suspended following seven thousand public responses, where eighty per cent of businesses and tourists were opposed. Legal requirements for notice mean the tax is now unlikely to appear before twenty twenty eight at the earliest. Finally, Hospitality and Catering News reports that Hungry Horse has begun a delivery trial via Uber Eats. The Greene King brand is testing home delivery across thirty one locations for the first time to reach new family demographics. Three things to think about before you get on with the day. With early evening spend now outperforming prime time, have you adjusted your rotas and happy hour windows to capture the five in the afternoon to seven in the evening crowd? If four in the afternoon is the new nine in the evening, is your current menu too focused on dinner? Could a stronger afternoon bakery or snack offering drive higher margin daytime sales? Are you prepared for the regulatory gap where scale allows big groups to absorb new taxes that could cripple smaller independent sites? That is the news for today. The full rundown is on the page, and every story there links back to the publication that reported it. This briefing is a signpost to the trade press rather than a replacement for it. Today's briefing pulled from Propel, The Caterer, and Hospitality and Catering News. That is your briefing. Have a good day.