Today’s news in brief – 22/01/24

Compass Group has signed an agreement to acquire CH&CO for £475m. CH&CO currently generates annual revenues of roughly £450m and operates across a range of sectors. According to Compass, CH&CO’s diverse client base and broad geographic spread would complement its existing footprint in the UK and Ireland.  

Average sales in managed venues dropped 7% in the week ended 13 January compared with the same week in 2022, according to CGA data. After a strong Christmas and a solid first week of 2024, many people will have sought to save some money by staying in. Cold weather and ‘Dry January’ may have further reduced footfall in pubs and bars. 

Scottish chef Tomás Gormley will launch his new fine dining restaurant, Cardinal, on Eyre Place, Edinburgh, in March 2024. Chef Gormley, who was awarded a Michelin star at Heron in 2023, is also chef-patron of Skua, which opened in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge in spring 2023. The new Cardinal restaurant is going to be his first solo launch.