Today’s news in brief – 17/01/25

Deliveroo has achieved the upper end of its earning guidance of between £110m-130m range. It comes as Deliveroo has seen a 7% rise in GTV year-on-year to £1.97bn and reported that revenues rose by 6% to £545m in Q4. In Q4, the group’s orders also increased 3% YoY and its GTV per order was also up by 4%. 

Directional Capital has acquired Heart With Smart, franchise operators of the UK Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, in a pre-pack deal which means the transfer and continuing operation of 139 restaurants across the country. Directional Capital is a US-based PE firm which also owns the company that operates Pizza Hut restaurants across Sweden and Denmark.

Tortilla has appointed a new director of central operations. Emily Bagshaw initially joined the burrito chain as head of central operations in January 2024 from TGI Friday’s, where she was central operations manager. In her new role as director of central operations, Bagshaw’s role will expand to leading Tortilla’s franchise relationships. 

Duck and Rice will be opening its second venue at Battersea Power Station. The Cantonese kitchen and pub brand’s 4,000 sq ft unit is currently undergoing a transformation into a 185-seat restaurant, including an open kitchen and raised bar area. Interior architecture and design studio Macaulay Sinclair has been appointed to deliver the new interior.