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.

GDK (German Doner Kebab), owned by Hero Brands, has hired a new chief financial officer and business development director, as it prepares to open its 150th store in the coming months. Tommy Edmond has joined the company as chief financial officer, while Amit Pancholi steps into the role of director of business development. Edmonds previously spent ten years at McDonald’s UK & Ireland and also held leadership positions at McLaren Applied and Uptake Strategies. 👉 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

Singapore-based hospitality group CDL Hospitality Trusts has acquired the Hotel Indigo in Exeter for £19.4m. The boutique hotel features spa and gym facilities as well as two retail units. The four-star hotel, in Catherine Street, opened in October 2023 following the conversion of a House of Fraser department store. 👉 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

Entrepreneur Mark Warburton has told Propel his Cow & Sow | B Corp™ business has achieved like-for-like sales growth of 29.5% in the nine months to the end of September and achieved B Corp certification. “This really has to be the proudest moment of my working life,” Warburton said. “It’s a ‘pinch me’ moment as we are now rubbing shoulders with some of the most respected hospitality brands in the UK. " 👉 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

NORTHERN MONK, the Active Partners-backed Leeds brewer, has exceeded its £1m crowdfunding target as it aims “to become Europe’s largest craft brewery by 2035”. The company was seeking to raise the funds to invest in three key initiatives. 👉 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

Valiant Pub Company, which was founded by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty at the start of 2021, has acquired its 70th site as it reported turnover has more than doubled. The company has added the Elephant & Castle in Telford to its portfolio. For the year ending 31 March 2024, Valiant’s turnover more than doubled to £18.2m, up from £8.3m in FY23, “reflecting the business’ robust position and continued strong growth across the UK”. 👉 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

Stephen Fern, managing director of 200 Degrees Coffee Roasters, the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, has told Propel that sales are up 24% this year and it aims to open two new sites in its current financial year. It comes as 200 Degrees, which operates 21 sites, reported turnover increased to a record £16,452,509 for the year ending 31 March 2024 compared with £13,122,758 the previous 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

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has begun exploring a £300m refinancing as it seeks to reduce its borrowing costs by locking in lower interest rates. Sky News has reported that TRG, which delisted from the London Stock Exchange last year after being bought by Apollo Global Management, is in talks with banks about securing new debt terms. 👉 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

Rhys Oldfield, the co-founder of the Be At One cocktail brand, is to launch a new concept called Saviour Bars, Propel has learned. The first site under the venture is set to open next month, in London’s Battersea. The Northcote Saviour will be a corner site located on the former Draft House at 94 Northcote Road and will open mid-November. 👉 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

Fast-growing “fine fast food” business Yolk has closed its crowdfunding campaign after raising almost £650,000 to help “deliver its next stage of expansion”. Last month, the business opened its eighth site in London – at Cardinal Place in Victoria – and announced its plans for a £300,000 crowdfund. 👉 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