UK

The UK leisure market is worth £117 billion in revenue and is growing nearly twice as fast as the retail sector, according to a new state-of-the-sector report and a survey of 3,000 UK consumers from Deloitte, the business advisory firm.

Here's what the QSRs were up to on social media last week.

According to a report from Savills, the restaurant market and in particular the casual dining market has seen considerable growth over the last five years despite mixed fortunes in retail since the economic downturn. 1,800 restaurants opened in the UK during the 12 months to October 2015 (a 6.9% increase yoy), with branded restaurants increasing 55% in the past decade.

QSR Media spoke with Taco Bell about the brand's tenth UK outlet at Cleethorpes and their future plans in the U.K.

The company will add more breakfast sandwich favorites – Biscuit Sandwiches, McMuffin Sandwiches and McGriddles – to its U.S. All Day Breakfast menu.

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.