Coffee nation: The UK’s caffeine addiction revealed as coffee chains take over May 19, 2016 Over-caffeinated Brits are fuelling a boom in coffee shops, according to new data from CBRE. Over the past 17 years, there has been a massive 20-fold increase in coffee chain outlets, from just 215 in 1998 to 4,234 in 2015. And the coffee shop trend shows no sign of abating, with an increase of six per [...]
Five things we learned about the way we eat now from Pret a Manger’s annual results April 19, 2016 There's no better barometer of the nation's eating habits and hottest foodie trends than Pret a Manger's yearly results. Last year, it was all about pulled pork and quinoa. This year, we're ditching the carbs and eating a hell of a lot of avocado… 1. Avocado king We knew avocado was having its moment (thanks, largely, to Instagram), but now [...]
Five million avocados later: Sales rise at Pret a Manger April 19, 2016 Apparently we're a nation of carb-free avocado loving sandwich eaters. The figures Sales at the City's favourite lunch stop were up 13.9 per cent to £676.2m in 2015, or 7.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis, according to the company's annual results. US like-for-like sales alone grew 13.8 per cent. That helped earnings before interest, taxation, [...]
Five Guys is the UK’s favourite fast food joint (sorry Nandos) March 21, 2016 Sorry, Nando's. Once we clasped your chickeny goodness close to our cholesterol-enlarged heart, but now you've been edged out by another fast food joint. We're a fickle – and also extremely hungry – bunch. Five Guys, the US burger chain that launched in the UK less than three years ago, has edged out its South African competitor [...]
Starbucks, Costa, KFC and Caffe Nero top list of worst offenders as research finds up to 25 teaspoons of sugar in hot drinks from coffee outlets February 17, 2016 Start your day with a coffee from one of the major chains? You could be drinking up to 25 teaspoons of sugar in one drink, according to new research. Campaign group Action on Sugar has studied hot drinks made by big name outlets including Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero and found that single drinks can [...]
Winter sun put on ice for holidaymakers as December is named as the month with the longest flight delays December 20, 2015 Those hoping for a little bit of winter sunshine might find themselves basking in the glow of the airport's Pret a Manger for longer than they'd bargained for, as research out today has found that December is the worst month for long flight delays. A study by Which? discovered that 3.5m passenger flights were delayed by [...]
Private equity house KKR to buy scientific testing specialists LGC from London investment firm Bridgepoint December 8, 2015 American private equity firm KKR has agreed to buy life sciences firm LGC from London-based investment group Bridgepoint for an undisclosed sum. LGC said under KKR’s ownership it plans to “continue the rapid development of the business” with a particular focus on the US and Asia. The company specialises in scientific testing, including DNA testing [...]
Would you make an evening meal of it at Starbucks or Pret? No? Then how about Greggs or Subway? December 1, 2015 Starbucks and Pret a Manger have started trialling late-night opening hours, offering their customers evening menus and even serving wine and beer. YouGov assessed the attitudes and opinions of more than 60,000 consumers to evaluate whether high street coffee outlets are really an attractive venue for dinner and drinks. The blunt answer is “not yet”. Almost [...]
Biffa in secret sell off talks: Waste management firm to go on sale for £1bn? November 23, 2015 Waste management firm Biffa is has been courting prospective buyers, giving itself a price tag of £1bn, Sky News has reported. The company is this morning set to report its half-year earnings, reportedly up by 19 per cent to £67.2m, with full-year profit expectations revised upward to £119m. Biffa is rumoured to have asked any [...]
Where can I use Apple Pay in the UK? The A-Z of shops, restaurants and apps which will accept mobile payment with iPhone 6 and 6 Plus November 17, 2015 Apple launched its mobile payment service, Apple Pay, in the UK in its first mobile payment move beyond the US, capitalising on the boom in mobile and contactless payments among consumers. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users can now pay with just the tap of a smartphone, or Apple Watch, across the high street and [...]