James O’Brien is the host of a current affairs phone-in discussion weekdays between 10 am and 1 pm on LBC, a radio station that attracts circa 2.7 million listeners every week. Amidst the myriad of issues facing the country, O’Brien’s Tuesday show dedicated an hour to discussing the people and skills shortages in hospitality. (Thank You) One of O’Brien’s favourite … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2021
Taster’s digital restaurant brand growth fuelled by $37 million investment
Taster, the London-based company behind a series of highly-popular digital restaurant brands, including the popular Korean chicken brand Out Fry, today announces that it has raised $37 million in Series B funding. (*A digital restaurant is simply a restaurant that exists only to deliver via online orders and has no other route to market. A Deliveroo that delivers only from its … [Read more...]
KP and ecologically friendly warewashing
Meiko has launched ecologically sensitive warewashing chemicals through a partnership with ECOLAB, the world leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention. "This is a partnership that brings together two global experts," says Meiko UK MD Paul Anderson. The MEIKO ACTIVE range has been designed by Meiko, using ECOLAB's expertise, to provide our customers with the sparkling … [Read more...]
Accor appoint new CEO of Raffles & Orient Express
Accor have announced the appointment of Stephen Alden to the role of Chief Executive Officer Raffles & Orient Express, effective May 3rd. Alden will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, and will become a member of the Group Executive Committee. Alden, who most recently created and launched the Dedica Anthology brand in 2017, encompassing a portfolio of … [Read more...]
Mixologist of the Week – Sarah Ben Saoud
This week, ahead of the bank holiday weekend, we’re focusing our attentions on the seriously talented Sarah Ben Saoud from Pali Hill in London. After working for many years in the corporate world, Sarah decided a change was needed and that her passion lay in cocktails. After all she loved drinking them and going to bars. So just over two years ago she packed in the … [Read more...]
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants appoint director to drive international growth
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has appointed Damien Brassel as Director of Culinary, International. Brassel most recently worked with SBE Hospitality and Lifestyle in New York and has over 25 years Industry experience working in some of the world’s leading hospitality groups and Michelin starred restaurants, including Rockpool Dining group in Sydney. Brassel joins Gordon … [Read more...]
The Cinnamon Club pay tribute to Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole who gave his life trying to save another
A young man tragically died on Saturday night after jumping into the River Thames to rescue a woman that fell from London Bridge. The woman survived but heartbreakingly, the courageous 20 year old Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole did not. Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole was part of the front-of-house team at Vivek Singh’s restaurant, The Cinnamon Club. Singh said: "We are all reeling from … [Read more...]
Whitbread posts £1 billion loss, but optimistic for staycation fuelled bounce back
The UK's largest hospitality company Whitbread has posted an annual loss of £1 billion, but is forecasting to bounce back through strong demand for staycations this summer. The owner of Premier Inn hotels, and the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurant chains labelled 2020 as the "most challenging in our 279 year history". Looking forward to a significant boost through … [Read more...]
Looming people and skills shortage will take a solution never before identified to remedy
Pizza Express are currently looking to recruit circa 1,000 people to meet demand when hospitality reopens indoors on 17 May. They are struggling to do so, as are countless other employers in hospitality. It’s not just the big name employers that are having difficulty either. Switching your twitter or Facebook feed on in recent days sees small independents struggling with … [Read more...]
Boris Johnson’s, no hospitality Covid passports message, needs confirmation
Boris Johnson is today being reported to have adjusted his plan for Covid passports away from hospitality providers including pubs and restaurants to focus on large events and international travel. As recently as last month the Prime Minister was not ruling out the possibility of a Covid passport being required for people to enjoy a pint at a pub, or a meal at a … [Read more...]
UK’s first Persian hospitality network launches
The Persian Hospitality Network (PHN), a platform aiming to celebrate and raise awareness of Persian people and brands in the UK hospitality sector, has been launched today. Profiling both leading and up-and-coming Persian individuals and brands, the PHN will support the work of industry professionals including chefs, restaurants, hoteliers, cooks, writers, food … [Read more...]
Levy extend two major sports catering contracts
Levy UK + Ireland, the sports and leisure hospitality division of Compass Group, has announced major contract renewals with Jockey Club Racecourses and The Kia Oval. The contract announcements follow news that the government plans for large scale events to safely reopen this summer as part of the ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’. Levy’s renewed contract with Jockey Club … [Read more...]
Chief Sustainability Officer appointed at Accor
Accor has announced the appointment of Brune Poirson to the role of Chief Sustainability Officer. Poirson will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, and will become a member of the Executive Committee. Her role will be to define, drive and monitor the commitments, the strategy and the roll-out of the Group’s action plans in terms of sustainable … [Read more...]
Why hospitality should give “a monkey’s” about Boris’ behaviour
The workings of Downing Street throughout the Covid-19 pandemic are being ever more closely focused on through our reporting, as hospitality has never previously been so impacted by them. Decisions taken affect our industry like never before. Decisions to close the hospitality industry have ultimately been taken by Boris Johnson. So, if you are a fan, you have him to thank for … [Read more...]
Hospitality businesses prepare to shed suppliers not living up to social values
Supplier businesses that fail to impress on policies around the environment and diversity at greatest risk, according to new research from Sodexo revealed today. Headlines from the research reveal: 66% of business leaders say they have already started replacing suppliers in the last year that don’t live up to their diversity and inclusion values. 65% have over the last … [Read more...]
