Propel Info

TV personality and adventurer Ben Fogle has been announced as one of the speakers at Propel's Multi-Club Conference taking place on 30 October at the the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London. Operators of multi-site hospitality companies can book up to three free places, or operators who are Propel Premium Club subscribers can claim up to four free places, by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com 10.00am-10.30am: Emma Bernardez, head of hospitality at haysmacintyre, talks to Lizzie Ryan-Podbury from Imbiba, Harry Goss, partner at McWin, Robin Rowland OBE from TriSpan, Andrew Fishwick at Hestia, about the current investment market. 10.30am-11.00am: Tim Shield, partner at leading sector licencing firm John Gaunt, will examine all the key legal developments that impacted multi-site operators in 2024. 👀 ONES TO WATCH 👀 11.00am-11.20am: Josh Kleiner of Sandwich Sandwich, which last October won the £100,000 top prize in the Uber Eats restaurant of the year awards. 11.20am-11.40am: Sophia Handschuh, founder of Sourdough Sophia, the London micro bakery concept that last summer raised £500,000 through crowdfunding. 11.40am-12.00pm: Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, discusses the late-night bakery brand’s entry into the UK market. 1.00pm-1.30pm: David Campbell, the former chief executive of PizzaExpress and Wagamama, and chair of Gaucho owner Rare Restaurants, and Ole & Steen, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about the progress of both businesses and his take on the issues impacting the wider market. 1.30pm-2.00pm: Kara Purves, group marketing director at Zonal, talks to Rebecca Farrer, director of digital and loyalty at Wagamama; Lauren Kopsch, head of digital marketing at Gail’s and Kat Schofield, head of sales and marketing at Gusto, about customer loyalty. 2.00pm-2.30pm: Des Gunewardena, founder of the D3 Collective and co-founder of D&D London, talks about on his return to the hospitality sector and his three new projects with a focus on “landmark sites”. 3.00pm-3.40pm: Making delivery work for you – panelists including Mark Finch, head of enterprise for Uber Eats UK&I, Joe Heather, general manager of UK&I at Deliverect; Megan Burton-Brown, marketing director at Tortilla, Matt Mollicone, founder at 7Bone, and Máté Kun, chief executive and co-founder Growth Kitchen 3.40pm-4.10pm: Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy’s UK and Europe, discusses the return to the UK for the third-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US. 4.10pm-4.30pm: Adam Martin, managing director of Tesco Hospitality, talks about evolving the F&B offer across circa 500 in-store cafes at the UK’s leading supermarket business. 4.30pm-5.00pm: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about the company’s plans for Wagamama and Brunning & Price. 5.00pm-5.40pm: Ben Fogle, the TV personality who has summited Everest and rowed the Atlantic, talks about overcoming adversity, teamwork and leadership.

Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N London has made its debut in Austria, in Vienna – its sixth opening within a month. The opening, in the Austrian capital’s Westfield Donau Zentrum scheme, marked its entry into its 14th territory and its 40th site overall. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

Exclusive Collection, which operates eight luxury hotels and spas across the UK, has launched a new fine-dining restaurant within the grade II-listed Ansty Hall in Ansty, Warwickshire. Twine is led by executive chef Ryan Swift and looks to highlight fresh local ingredients. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

The team behind Mexican taco restaurant and bar concept, Madre restaurants, is gearing up to open the first UK site for Norwegian burger concept, Doug’s Hamburgers. The concept, which currently operates three sites in Norway, will make its UK debut in Manchester’s Circle Square, before the end of the year. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

J D Wetherspoon has rebutted inaccuracies in a recent Investors’ Chronicle article, clarifying misconceptions about its founder, Sir Tim Martin, and its Brexit stance. The company emphasised its “balanced” coverage of the Brexit debate in its Wetherspoon News magazine and explained financial losses during the pandemic despite government subsidies. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

GSG Hospitality has told Propel that its Nord restaurant is “performing beyond expectations” and that it is exploring expanding the concept through private catering. The group, which is behind Bold Street Coffee along with several other north west concepts, opened the Scandinavian-influenced all-day restaurant in March last year in Liverpool’s The Plaza building. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

The Hush Collection has appointed advisors to explore options for its London premium burger concept, Haché. The Edward Standring and Jamie Barber-led business is working with advisors Interpath on an accelerated sales process for Hache, which operates sites in Balham, Clapham, Chelsea and Kingston. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

Former UKHospitality chair Sir Nick Varney has taken on a non-executive chairman role at live events business, the NEC Group. Varney, who was chief executive at Merlin Entertainments from its inception in 1999 to November 2022, is also currently a non-executive director of Marston’s and a senior adviser to private equity firm Blackstone. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

Martin Williams has stepped down as chief executive of Rare Restaurants, the vehicle he helped to found, which operates the Gaucho and M Restaurants brands, Propel has learned. The company told Propel that Williams has decided to embark on his "next personal chapter", and a new chief executive for the 22-strong business will be appointed in early 2025. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR

Stonegate Group, the UK's largest pub company, has continued the evolution of its management team after hiring Kay Bartlett, currently at Wagamama, as its new chief marketing officer, Propel has learned. Bartlett, who will officially join Stonegate next February, has been with The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama for almost five years, including three and a half years as its chief marketing officer. 👉 For the full version of this story and to read it first sign up to the Propel email newsletter for free: https://lnkd.in/eyy_THzR