Today’s news in brief – 10/01/24

Greggs plans to open between 140 and 160 new shops in 2024, as total sales in FY23 increased 9.6% to £1.8bn. The food-to-go retailer saw a 9.4% increase in like-for-like sales during Q4 of the year. By the end of the year, Greggs had extended its delivery service with Uber Eats to 710 shops, in addition to the service provided with Just Eat. 

JD Wetherspoon has agreed a deal with Haven to operate pubs in its holiday parks. The agreement will see £1.1m invested into the first Wetherspoon pub, which will open its doors in March at Primrose Valley in North Yorkshire. The deal means that Haven is the first and only UK holiday park operator to enter a commercial partnership with the pub company.

BM Caterers has strengthened its business development team, with two new appointments and an internal promotion. Deniz Inceer has been recruited as business development manager with Lisa Cook appointed head of regional business development, while Michelle Jugessur has been promoted from new business relationship manager to head of business development for London.

Chef Sally Abé has appointed Jennifer Collins as head chef at The Pem, her signature restaurant in the heart of Westminster. Collins joins from Kol restaurant in Marylebone, where she served as senior sous chef and gained valuable experience in British produce and culinary techniques. She has also overseen a team of 21 chefs during her tenure at Kol.