Today’s news in brief – 28/03/25

New World Trading Company has seen its revenues hit a record £73.5m in FY24. The bar and restaurant operator also delivered a 20% increase in underlying EBITDA for the period. Over the past year, NWTC had established a new leadership team, which has been credited with placing its main brand, The Botanist, “at the heart of its growth plans”. Since the year-end, the group opened three new sites and converted five former single-site brands to The Botanist concepts. These conversions were attributed to a LFL sales rise of 16%. 

Chopstix has closed its Oxford Street site as the business seeks a new location for the QSR brand on the street. The Central London location, which first opened in 2002, was the debut Chopstix site launched by co-founders Sam Elia and Menashe Sadik. This month Chopstix launched its first new concept store in Bridgend, with brand new visuals, store offerings including bottomless drinks and table service, and improved operational approaches. The new store concept will be implemented across all new Chopstix sites.

Mrs Bakery and Sushi Joy have officially opened in Chinatown, London. The pastry concept and quick service vendor have launched debut locations close to Leicester Square at 12/13 Little Newport Street and 15a Little Newport Street, respectively. Mrs Bakery’s 1,300 sq ft unit joins Chinatown London’s varied collection of traditional and modern ESEA pastry concepts, including Chinatown Bakery and Kova Patisserie. Sushi Joy’s kiosk combines the traditional artistry of sushi making with a “modern” grab-and-go approach.