Today’s news in brief – 28/02/25

Papa John’s full-year revenues fell by 4% to $2.06bn (£1.64bn), as global restaurant sales fell by 3% to $4.85bn (£3.85bn). It comes as North American sales were down 4% from 2023, while sales at the group’s international restaurants fell by 1% during the same period. Meanwhile, total revenues for the fourth quarter were down by 7% to $531m (£421.5m) compared with the same quarter the year before. 

D&D London has named Martin Williams its new CEO, effective from 31 March, as the group prepares to rebrand itself to The Evolv Collection from April. Williams brings 25 years of business leadership experience as both a “multi-award-winning” restaurant entrepreneur and a “pioneering” CEO. 2018 saw him awarded as a  ‘Sunday Times – Maserati Top 100 British Entrepreneurs’, and he also took over the reins once more at Gaucho.

Heavenly Desserts and Burger and Sauce will open two new sites in Merry Hill shopping centre. Opening in April, Heavenly Desserts has signed for a 68-cover, 2,189 sq ft unit next to Wingstop and opposite the recently opened Loungers. Meanwhile, West Midlands burger brand Burger and Sauce will open a 2,106 sq ft location later this year. The restaurant will serve up burgers, wings, and loaded fries, with room for 54 seated diners.

Wetherspoon will be opening The Humber Stone at Haven Cleethorpes Beach on 7 March. It comes after Haven invested around £1.7m in the new pub as part of a wider investment of around £6.7m in the expansion of its exclusive partnership with the pub group. The exclusive partnership also includes new openings at its Kent Coast, Devon Cliffs and Haggerston Castle holiday parks.