Pret A Manger dumps US franchise agreement after just two years Retail Pret A Manger has dumped the franchise agreement which it had launched to expand in the US after just two years, its latest accounts revealed. The coffee chain formed a joint venture, known as Empire JointStar, with its franchise operator Dallas Holdings in October 2023, in a bid to accelerate its expansion in the US. [...]
Vodafone says UK merger is ‘ahead of plan’ as boss bets on mega multi-brand strategy Telecoms Vodafone said it is “building momentum” as the telecoms behemoth pushes further into the British market following its £4.3bn VodafoneThree deal and signs of stabilisation in Germany. The FTSE 100 telecoms group reported better-than-expected annual revenue of €40.4bn (£35bn) for the year to March, up from €37.4bn last year. Meanwhile, pre-tax profit slipped slighty to [...]
NBA franchises jump in value as two top $10bn Sport Business NBA franchises have increased in value by 20 per cent to an average $5.51bn, according to the Sportico 2025 NBA Valuation Report. The data shows the continued growth in the North American league, a league where the lowest-valued team – the Memphis Grizzlies – are worth a colossal $4bn. But the Golden State Warriors have [...]
Formula 1’s popular F1 Arcade signs first franchise deal after $130m raise September 3, 2025 Formula 1’s popular F1 Arcade product has this morning announced its first franchise agreement, with the viewing and gaming hub set to hit the Iberian Peninsula. F1 Arcade’s flagship location is at One New Change in St Paul’s, but the Formula 1 affiliated experiential hospitality offering also has sites in Birmingham, as well as Boston, [...]
Vodafone boss faces renewed backlash over £85m franchise dispute July 29, 2025 Former franchisees accused telecoms giant Vodafone of driving small business owners to the brink at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, amid a deepening £85m legal dispute over its former retail partner model. At the meeting in Newbury, several claimants involved in the lawsuit directly challenged chief executive Margherita Della Valle and chairman Jean-François van [...]
F1 Arcade: London spot where you pay £100 to taste Formula 1 lifestyle June 3, 2025 With Formula 1’s rapid fandom rise, it was only a matter of time before you paid £100 to watch an F1 race down at your local. Matt Hardy takes a look at F1 Arcade. The seemingly sudden rise in Formula 1 interest among non-petrol heads has been nothing short of astonishing. In its 75th year [...]
Spudway: Subway expands into jacket potatoes in bid to boost UK sales February 19, 2025 Subway has revamped its menu in the latest change to its marketing strategy as it looks to boost UK sales. The fast-food giant will trial a customisable jacket potato in 170 UK stores, citing the humble potato’s social media “renaissance” and “fame on social media”. Deniz Safa, Director of Innovation & Culinary at Subway EMEA, said [...]