Today’s news in brief – 10/04/25

Cooks Coffee has seen store sales rise 26.4% to £35.1m in the year to 31 March 2025, with fourth quarter sales having jumped 35% to £9.5m due to strong trading momentum. It comes as the operator of the Esquires coffee chain expanded its estate in the year, from 75 to 89 in the UK and Ireland. During the year, Esquires was awarded the 2025 EU Business Irish Enterprise Award for ‘Organic Coffee Shop Enterprise of the Year’. In addition, the group refinanced its debt with the Bank of New Zealand. 

Company of Cooks has extended its partnership with the RCP in a £10m deal. The team will continue to exclusively manage and deliver the full suite of catering and hospitality services at the Royal College of Physicians’ Grade I-listed building in London’s Regent’s Park. This includes the bespoke catering and event solutions and front-of-house management. Company of Cooks’ consistent “high satisfaction” scores from RCP members and event attendees has been cited as one of the reasons for the extension. 

Foodservice YoY inflation held steady at 1.8% in February, while month-on-month inflation saw a slight decrease of 0.1%, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (FPI). While this reflects some stability for the foodservice sector over the past year, the underlying global economic factors and domestic policy changes present more challenges going forward. Six out of 10 of the index’s categories experienced month-on-month inflation in February. Conversely, only one category out of the 10 showed year-on-year deflation. 

German Doner Kebab will open two new UK sites in Norwich and Bluewater Shopping Centre. The launch of its Norwich location marks the chain’s fourth opening of the year, and its 147th UK branch to date. Meanwhile, the planned opening of its Bluewater site is part of the company’s “ambitious” expansion plans for 2025. The two new openings will create 40 jobs at both sites respectively, and open up the brand’s new menu to more places.