Today’s news in brief – 15/02/24

Britain’s leading hospitality groups saw YoY LFL sales growth of just 0.1% in January, according to data from CGA. This comes after there was like-for-like sales growth of 8.8% in December 2023.

Knoops reported a 23% rise in revenues on a like-for-like basis for the start of 2024. In addition to over-the-counter, barista-prepared drinks, sales of chocolate flakes in stores are continuing to perform strongly – also up 23% LFL. 

The founder and CEO of the Coaching Inn Group, Kevin Charity, will retire at the end of March after 28 years. The Coaching Inn Group, which was founded by Charity in 1996, was acquired by RedCat in August 2021. Since the acquisition, the historic coaching inns and pub hotels operator has nearly doubled in scale, growing from 18 to 35 sites. 

Buzzworks Holdings appointed Scottish chef Brian Maule as a consultant. This role will see Maule apply his “extensive experience to enhance collaboration and overall productivity” throughout Buzzworks’ 19 venue kitchens. As well as working behind the scenes across the venues, Maule will also be headlining a special chef’s evening at Buzzworks’ flagship venue, The Vine.