UK

The coffee shop chain unveiled a new Costa Careers YouTube series, starring Jason Cotta, recently appointed Managing Director of Costa UK and Ireland.

Pret A Manger will be opening its first motorway service shop, as part of a trial partnership with Welcome Break.

intu signed up American frozen yoghurt chain Menchie’s first European store at intu Lakeside, where the brand hopes to emulate the success of its 500 other outlets across 13 countries.

The digital marketplace for takeaway food delivery has partnered with Starship Technologies to trial self-driving delivery robots on the streets of London.

The brand's store at Heathrow Terminal 2 won the top prize for fast food at the international FAB AWARDS 2016, which recognizes excellence in the airport food and beverage sector.

The brand announced that it will be opening a new Deli this July in Covent Garden.

The rapper held a one-off secret concert at the McDonald's Walsall restaurant.

According to a story by the Telegraph, the restaurant chain has approached former Whitbread executive Alan Parker to oversee its US expansion drive.

According to a story by Bloomberg, Zume, a new startup in Mountain View, California, is trying to make a more profitable pizza through robotics.

Casual dining brands in the UK with under 25 sites have grown by 39% over the past three years, opening a combined 489 new outlets across the UK, according to the recent ‘Casual Dining in the UK’ report by Savills. David Bell, head of leisure at Savills, said: “The significant growth by the smaller brands emphasises the development we’ve seen in new concepts. These smaller chains have provided consumers with more choice and offered a point of difference in the market, and with this success it is driving them to open more sites around the country. Furthermore with the investment from private equity we could see more brands with the capital to grow.” The research revealed that smaller brands such as Wahaca, Franco Manca and Cau have grown faster than established large brands, adding 489 outlets (+39%) since the end of 2012, compared to brands such as Pizza Express, Prezzo and Nando’s, which have opened 297 (+13%). Savills highlighted that 80% of the casual dining market is made up of brands with fewer than 25 restaurants. In the report Savills research also showed the growth in different cuisines, with North American, Caribbean and Thai cuisines restaurants having the greatest growth over the past four years. The report noted that 66% of all North American restaurants opened after 2012, compared to 11% of all pizza restaurants, showing a cultural shift in the UK dining market. Tom Whittington, research director at Savills, said: “Post recession we saw a real boom in the leisure market and that meant the demand for new cuisines from the consumer saw a number of new chains emerging such as Turtle Bay, which is Caribbean, and north American causal dining restaurant Red’s.”

The Bardolino Pizzeria, Bellini & Espresso Bar officially opened, serving up more than 70 pizzas and 50 pasta dishes on opening day last June 23rd.

The Sidcup-based restaurant will celebrate July 4th with an American inspired menu of burgers, cocktails and desserts.

The coffee shop chain selected ResearchBods to recruit, build and manage an on-going, bespoke insight community.

The brand announced its newest limited edition burger, the Bacon CheddarShack, available for a limited time at all U.S. Shacks.

The brand is offering customers the chance to win a year's supply of burritos through an online competition.

The company offered an exclusive 30% introductory discount on deliveries in London.