Melting pot of the American South May 13, 2014 Dish of the day Christopher’s Blackened Salmon Here At Christopher’s, where I’m head chef, the blackened salmon is one of the most iconic dishes. It’s blackened by spices like cayenne, paprika, thyme and garlic powder, which caramelise when they hit a hot pan. Jambalaya is a spicy risotto with roots in the French and African [...]
US corporate results round up May 8, 2014 The Walking Dead boosts revenues at AMC Networks Cable TV network AMC Networks yesterday reported a 37 per cent jump in quarterly revenue as more people watched the fourth-season finale of its popular show The Walking Dead. Net income rose to $71.4m (£42.2m) in the first quarter from $61.5m a year earlier. Revenue rose to [...]
CVC binges on Asian fast food with KFC deal May 8, 2014 LONDON-based private equity firm CVC Capital continued its Asian fast-food binge yesterday by snapping up the South Korean franchise of KFC. The London-headquartered business, which is currently in the process of floating insurer Saga on the London Stock Exchange and also owns Formula One, will pay 100bn won (£57.7m) to buy the fried chicken franchise [...]
KFC to create 6,500 new jobs April 28, 2014 Fast food chain KFC announced plans yesterday to open 150 restaurants in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, creating up to 6,500 new jobs. The fried chicken chain, which is owned by the US firm Yum Brands, said it will begin by investing £21m to open 32 new stores before the end [...]
Former Tiger Tiger boss given reins to Cafe Rouge chain April 28, 2014 THE OWNER of restaurant chains Cafe Rouge, Strada and Bella Italia has replaced its chief executive with the driving force behind London hotspots Jewel in Piccadilly, City institution Abacus and the Tiger Tiger nightclub chain. Tragus Group, which also owns London-based restaurants Belgo and Amalfi, has recruited Steve Richards, who was most recently the chief [...]
Gimme 5 April 27, 2014 …EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LONDON AND THE SOUTH FINALISTS Aldermore The private equity-backed UK bank provides retail and SME savings accounts, commercial and residential mortgages, and asset and invoice finance. Founded by Phillip Monks, it has operated in the UK since 2009. aldermore.co.uk Cote Restaurants Operator of 47 casual dining restaurants across the UK, [...]
Hotels converted into townhouses in west London April 24, 2014 Michael Jackson’s favourite London hotel has been revived as The Hempel Collection TWO HOTELS that were worlds apart in style, concept and clientele have been brought together under one roof as part of a period conversion in west London. The Hempel Collection, a luxury development of 12 apartments and three bespoke townhouses in Bayswater, bears [...]
Focus on… Stratford: Stratford’s racing to the finish line April 24, 2014 EVERYONE knows that the Olympic Games were held in Stratford, east London, nearly two years ago, but few people know it for much else. It’s true that, since the opening of Westfield Stratford City, millions of people go there to shop – but how many are looking to live there? Despite the pre-Olympics hype, house [...]
SSP wins £35m Athens airport contract April 23, 2014 SSP, the food services group run by former WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann, has won a seven-year contract worth €42m (£34.6m) to run nine outlets at Athens’ international airport Eleftherios Venizelos. The restaurants inside a 500 square metre food court opened last month and include Le Grand Comptoir and bakery brand Panopolis. The group, [...]
McDonald’s profits fall as US diners stay away April 22, 2014 MCDONALD’S has suffered another sluggish quarter of sales in its key US market, dragging group profits down, as the fast-food giant struggled with fierce competition, weak consumer spending and a cold winter. Group like-for-like sales rose 0.5 per cent but US sales fell 1.7 per cent, which the hamburger chain blamed partly yesterday on the [...]