Today’s news in brief – 09/01/25

Greggs has surpassed £2bn in sales for the first time in 2024. Despite the 11.3% sales increase, Greggs warned that it would raise prices further to offset increased employment costs. Furthermore, Subdued high street footfall contributed to a 2.5% increase in like-for-like sales in company-managed shops.

Top restaurant group saw LFL sales growth of 6.2% in delivery and takeaways in November for the 18th month in a row. It continues a “strong run of growth that was well above the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index throughout the first 11 months of 2024. Total delivery and takeaway sales rose by 14.7%, having benefited from Halloween.  

Gobind Chona will open his latest restaurant, Oorja, in London in February, following the success of his first restaurant Gura Gura in Covent Garden. Oorja, which will be located on Shaftesbury Avenue, will “take guests on a food journey through India”. Spread across two floors, the restaurant will hold 105 covers and feature a downstairs bar area.

Dorking pub, The Spotted Dog, has reopened after a six-figure investment, which extended the venue’s capacity by 130. The pub closed its doors on 20 October 2024 for the transformation, with two months of extensive work taking place behind the scenes to introduce new features. The pub has also launched a new drinks menu.