Oliver Meakin

🚀 Exciting News from itim Group plc! 🚀 itim Group plc, a SaaS based technology company that enables store-based retailers to optimise their businesses to improve financial performance announces the signing of a five-year multi-million-pound contract renewal with Majestic Wine, the UK's largest specialist wine retailer with over 200 stores! 🍇🍷 The renewal of its subscription for itim's UNIFY platform underscores our commitment to revolutionising retail operations for Majestic Wine. 🛒✨ With UNIFY, Majestic Wine gains a holistic view of customers, products, and real-time stock across all channels. 📊💼 John Colley, CEO of Majestic Wine, said: "In 2021, Majestic selected itim’s UNIFY platform as its technology partner.  Together we have turned Majestic into what we believe to be one of U.K.’s leading Omni channel retailers. I am pleased to extend this partnership to cover Majestic’s next five year digital journey." 🌟 Ali Athar, CEO of itim Group plc, echoed the sentiment, saying: "We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with such a prestigious retail brand. This five year renewal is an endorsement of Majestic’s confidence in our UNIFY platform which seeks to help retailers achieve omni-channel excellence by driving sales and profitability by putting ‘the customer’ at the heart of Majestic’s unified retail business model." 🤝💡 #RetailTech #PartnershipRenewal #OmniChannelExcellence #CustomerCentricity #RetailTech #PartnershipRenewal #OmniChannelExcellence #CustomerCentricity #RetailInnovation #DigitalTransformation #BusinessTech #SaaSolutions WH Ireland Graham Herring Florence Chandler Ian Hayes 🚀✨

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Thanks to Seb Hemingway and the team at Bizimply (one of TiPJAR's newest partners) for inviting me to join them on a recent webinar and talk about the subject of tronc in the UK. This isn't just about the legislation, this conversation is about how operators should be using tronc in the right way to improve many things within the business: - Attracting the best talent - Increasing employee engagement - Improving employee retention - Driving customer service levels - And much more Through poor advice in the past, tronc has often been used as a way of just guaranteeing salary/wage without looking at the impact that complacency has on employee and customer experiences. I talk about this as an operator at heart, and having seen the impact tips can have on culture and performance on the front line. We know the legislation isn't perfect but I'm confident the best operators will thrive by having the right policies, practices and tech in to support a smooth operation. Take a look at the video posted and feel free to reach out to me via DM or [email protected] if you have any questions. #tronc #partnerships #hospitality #employeeexperience #customerservice

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The Franchisee world - Interesting well done Domino's - "over 90 per cent of our franchisees started out making pizzas or as delivery drivers and have worked their way up.” For Andrew Rennie Domino's UK Chief Executive, the scheme is partly about providing his “Dominoids” with an entrepreneurial alternative to climbing the corporate ladder as an employee. “If you are a franchisee, you are running your own business. Within the walls of the franchise, you get to choose how you do that and where to invest your time,” he said. “Although not everyone wants to be in business — there is risk and you have to take on debt — over 90 per cent of our franchisees started out making pizzas or as delivery drivers and have worked their way up.” The sight of its branded scooters zipping around Kent must have made quite an impression on Lucy Harman. Not only has she been working for what is now Britain’s biggest pizza chain since shortly after she left school 16 years ago, she also has just sunk her life savings into the business and is busy preparing to open her own Domino’s franchise in Hayling Island, Hampshire, complete with her very own delivery bikes to look after. The chance to run her own small piece of the more than 1,300-strong Domino’s UK branch network came as the result of a company initiative called Homegrown Heroes, aimed at encouraging successful employees to take the plunge and become franchisees. Harman, the first woman to become a Homegrown Hero, said that despite her being “a walking Domino’s dictionary” and one of the firm’s top-performing store managers, without the push provided by the scheme she would not have had the confidence to go for it. “I don’t come from a business background. All my family work in regular jobs. Homegrown Heroes gave me the opportunity I needed. I don’t think I would ever have done it by myself.” #growingentrepreneurs #dominospizza #becomingaboss #franchisee

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As the majority of our members struggle to trade profitably due to exceptional costs of doing business the Government chose to increase the already unfair level of taxes pubs face. Our recent member survey laid out the consequences of this decision with 80% of pubs expecting to be unprofitable due to additional taxes, 75% will cut staff hours, 40% will reduce opening hours and 1 in 3 will make staff redundant. Our members pubs are vital small businesses at the heart of every community providing accessible local skilled jobs and are foundational in local economies. They do not need handouts, they need a fair trading environment recognising they need to operate from physical buildings and need to employ large teams, with many part time workers meeting their needs for flexible employment. We urge Government to re-think and reverse the additional employer taxes and increase in business rates. BII #MyPub #HeartoftheCommunity 10 Downing Street Department for Business and Trade Keir Starmer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves Jonathan Reynolds MP Gareth Thomas MP

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WHO WILL BENFIT FROM CALRSBERG / MARSTONS / BRITVIC MERGER? I was recently inspired by Pete Brown to write a piece on the future of cask beer following his article on Carlsberg’s approach to the UK market.  Thanks to all those who engaged with that debate about the future of our national drink. It concluded that in a thriving beer category there should be room for all beer styles. Cask beer has all the attributes to appeal to a young generation and is showing double digit growth amongst local independent brewers. Businesses are free to make their choices but please don’t make it impossible for independent brewers to sell cask beer to the many who want to drink it. The positive response to the article prompted me to take a deeper look into the forthcoming enlarged Carlsberg / Britivc business and ask, simply what will happen and who will benefit? I have been surprised with the lack of debate on this deal and having worked in beer and soft drinks I feel reasonably well qualified to kick it off. The takeover announcement states that the new Carlsberg – Marstons - Britvic company will “take advantage of the highly synergistic relationship between beer and soft drinks.” It will merge a global brewer that sells one in seven pints in the UK beer market (including the biggest brewer of cask beer) with a soft drinks manufacturer with over a third of the UK licensed trade soft drinks market. In other words, a dominant corporation that will cast a huge shadow over the sector. In assessing this, ignore the more generic definition of “on premise” and focus specifically on UK pubs clubs and bars.. Why? Because in soft drinks much of the unlicensed on premise listing decisions are made in the head offices of McDonalds, Burger King, Subway and the global contract caterers like Compass. The UK on-licensed trade is where the impact of this deal will be most keenly felt, in the only outlets where it is legally possible to stock Pepsi alongside Carlsberg . The new consolidated company will control deliveries into those outlets, own both the beer and soft drinks dispense equipment which are essential for these drinks to be served and have a major stake in the company that services the kit when it breaks down. It would be interesting to know how many licensed trade outlets stock Carlsberg and not Pepsi and visa versa, remembering the stated aim of this new company is to “synergise” the two. Surely the only output would be to limit access to other suppliers of all sizes with products people want to buy. The small brewers I speak to tell me that access to market is their single biggest barrier to growth. I also know first-hand how challenging innovation in soft drinks is, even for big companies. I see no way that this newly formed foreign owned corporation would make either of those situations better. So who wins? The pub goer? The small supplier? The larger supplier? Or the newly formed Danish owned corporation? You decide. 

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Purpose as a Compass Maverick Leaders echos the same truth: having a clarity of purpose and direction is the bedrock of building a great company. But how many truly put it at the heart of every decision and every action? In hospitality, where complexity meets creativity, establishing this purpose can feel elusive and more aspirational than practical. Yet, the most visionary leaders know that a well-defined direction isn't just a feel-good statement—it’s a compass that guides every team member and shapes every guest experience. Zingerman’s started as a small deli in Michigan and has grown into a $73 million powerhouse of 17 interconnected, semi-autonomous businesses. Founders Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig didn’t follow the typical path of rapid expansion. Instead, they spent years with their team crafting a vision of sustainable growth, human-centred leadership, and a unique community-driven business model. They didn’t just dream of building a global empire. They imagined a “community of businesses” that would operate with purpose, impact, and autonomy—aligned with their core values, not at the cost of them. Zingerman’s vision evolved again in 2009 and 2020, and in the middle of a pandemic, they released their 2032 vision, proving that purpose-driven leadership can be a guiding light through even the most challenging times. Zingerman’s story isn’t about size or dominance—it’s about staying true to purpose, growing gracefully, and mastering the art of long-term thinking. Their success, built over 40 years, shows that a compelling vision isn’t just a guiding principle—it’s a living strategy, one that transforms not just the business but the lives of employees, customers, and communities. How clear is your business’s purpose and direction? Is it a static mission statement, or does it drive every action and decision from your frontline teams to the boardroom? #purpose #direction #clarity #vision -------------------------------------------- ♻️ Repost if this resonates with you. 🙋‍♂️ I’m Michael, and I believe in business as a force for good. 🎧 Listen to The Hospitality Mavericks Podcast on your favourite platform. 🫘 Eat more plants and beans for your health and the planet's—visit Pulse Kitchen for more.

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According to recent data from Meaningful Vision Ltd, we are seeing an increased focus on Meal Deals and Limited-Time Offers (LTOs) in the fast-food industry. Their share on menus grew by 12% in the last year, according to insights shared in a recent QSR Media UK (linked below). Notably Meal Deal LTOs have nearly doubled and now account for 20% of all LTOs.   This isn’t surprising news if you have also been tracking what is happening in the hospitality sector (with parallels also happening in the retail sector). There is a definite growing trend in the prominence of 'bundles' across menu options and order types, particularly in pre-orders and catering, which is also, in its own right, seeing a boom. Essentially a bundle is of course a discount, but they do also help you to get more money in the tills. Here is why I rate them: 🎯 Simplifying decision making. Bundles reduce friction for the purchaser, making it easier to decide, especially for those organising food orders for larger groups. 🎯 Higher AOV. Whilst a bundle might seem like a discounted deal, it often leads to a higher AOV when you strategically build in upsell opportunities, including sides and drinks. 🎯 Marketing Flexibility. Regardless of terminology - bundles, meal deals, platters, or meals for 4, the concept remains the same - a value-driven offer that appeals to consumers and gives you a marketing platform to help drive demand. Expect more creativity around bundles and LTOs. The savviest are combining these with rewards and targeted campaigns. Just make sure you pick the right tech stack to make this happen.  #MealDeals #LTOs #ConsumerTrends #FoodIndustryInsights #Slerp

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Industry insights: We are privately funded investment and very fortunate to have supportive investors and advisors from the very top of the global hospitality industry and constantly benefit from the analysis of their huge data sets in the tens of millions: - UK hospitality spenders are finishing their nights earlier than historically. More customers want to be done by 10.30pm latest. - WFH is a daytime help to revenue but a night-time challenge. - Spend per head is up, but customers are attracted to deals and LOVE collaborations with quality brands: GAUCHO Your Golf Travel Callaway Golf Trackman - It is tough out here! However, flight to quality never stops. There is saturation in some areas of entry level brands. Therefore, since day one, every penny we can invest on improving our customer experience, we do. The best example I have seen of this is Flight Club Darts who just amaze customers and onlookers alike. A class operation. - Investment and training in the team continues to makes a huge difference to revenue. (Shock, horror!) - Simulator golf has grown 73% since 2019, with 65% of golfers starting their golf journey away from traditional golf clubs. - 1% of golf club members are women aged between 20 and 50, (our mix is approx 35%). - 11m of the 16m golfers in the UK and Ireland are EXCLUSIVELY off-course; hello Trackman! Frankly, this is the best industry in the world as we make people happier and enjoy their time together, which is a real treat. Also, there is such a collaborative culture within the industry. It is full of good people and friends Mark Derry and whilst business is business, we all seem to love this one! Michael Malone Ross Marshall Ross Barthet Mike Lea Andrew Harding Martin Williams

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Be part of making the hospitality industry better. 🎧Our Listeners learn and improve themselves and their teams by listening to the show! 🎧 Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade , says: "I highly recommend this...the podcast is vital listening, not only for forward-thinking F&B businesses but for those of us searching for systems and structures to embed into our businesses to support sustainability, with food and drink, of course, being at the heart of this. I have yet to get to Zingerman's, but I have digested all I can of what they do and their approach to thriving as a community-focused business, as everyone around them chases growth! I can guarantee you will find this inspiring, it always is! ." Imagine your brand getting this kind of exposure every episode. Interested? Sponsoring the Hospitality Maverick Podcast isn’t just about ads. It’s about aligning with thought leadership and being part of a conversation that drives the hospitality industry forward. Join us as a headline sponsor and leverage our platform to showcase your brand’s commitment to innovation and excellence. Reach out to learn more about this unique opportunity! Let’s connect - DM me here. Ps. Check out more great reviews via the link in the comments. #brand #imopact #thoughtleadership

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So chuffed to be at SCALE UK again, what an amazing conference. The one and only Amit Bhatia was on stage talking about how to communicate your sustainability journey to your audience. The subject is covered in our latest blog - take a look in the comments for the link. #SustainableSTRs #AmazingCommunication

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Well said Kate Nicholls OBE 👏 For the hospitality sector to thrive we need fairness on business rates - bricks & mortar has carried the weight for far too long. Nothing more, nothing less, just fair and balanced that’s all we ask. One third of all business rates on top of being one of the most highly taxed sectors in Europe is adding more pressure than ever to our beleaguered sector. Of course hospitality will continue to endure, evolve and survive but to stimulate real, sustained growth the UK government must provide a long-term roadmap. A fair approach to business rates with true reform would accelerate the sector, almost immediately. Here’s hoping that Keir Starmer and his cabinet see the hospitality sectors true potential 🤞 #pubs #bars #restaurants #leisure #hospitality #government #chancellor #budget #uk UKHospitality Young's Pubs The Conservative Party The Labour Party Robert Jenrick Kemi Badenoch Mike Owen Tracy Dodd Kara Alderin Jon Falarczyk Tom Bowen 👇👇👇👇👇

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🌟 Join us Tomorrow at the Retail Gazette Efficiency Debate! 🌟 Good Growth is excited to support the Retail Gazette Efficiency Debate happening tomorrow, Wednesday, 25th September 2024, at the Courthouse Hotel, Shoreditch, London. As retailers continue to face rising costs and shrinking margins, the importance of driving efficiency has never been greater. This event brings together senior retail professionals to share insights and strategies on streamlining operations, reducing costs, and building resilient, future-fit businesses. You can find out more about the event here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDye7MBn #RetailEfficiency #RetailTransformation #Innovation

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Flex Operator Workshop: Is your brand differentiation powerful enough for a commoditised market? Don't let your brand get left behind! Announcing Brave Corporation Ltd.'s latest event for flex & coworking operators... Join us 23 July Operator Workshop: Is your brand differentiation powerful enough for a commoditised market? Led by Keke Patissier, CEO of Koho.ai, with a 20 year track record consulting with SMEs and global companies to help them drive top line performance. WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND? 1) You want to understand how to differentiate your brand in a commoditised flex space market 2) You like diving deep into what drives customer choices in the flexible workspace sector 3) You have a desire to learn how to leverage operational excellence, customer intimacy, and product leadership to stand out 4) You want to understand how aligning your company culture and processes to your brand values is transformative for revenue Tap below for further details & registration: https://lnkd.in/eCJxZrKx

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D&D London owners cook up TGI Fridays takeover The owners of some of London's most prominent restaurants are in talks to buy the UK operations of TGI Fridays, the casual dining chain whose parent company collapsed into administration last week. Sky News has learnt that Breal Capital Group and Calveton, which acquired D&D London - owner of the German Gymnasium and Quaglino's restaurants - last year, are in advanced negotiations to take on TGI Fridays' British franchise. Industry sources said the deal was likely to see the new owners taking over the majority of its 89 sites, but that a significant number of jobs were nevertheless expected to be lost. One analyst estimated that between 50 and 60 TGI Fridays sites were commercially viable, which they said was likely to mean the new owners would be able to save roughly three-quarters of TGI Fridays' current UK workforce of about 3200 people. Hostmore plc the parent company, said last week that it was filing for administration but this would have no impact on Thursdays, the trading subsidiary. However, the operating business is itself understood to have filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on Monday. "The board inherited a very challenging set of circumstances, but a focus on reducing costs, revising the Group's capital allocation policy and implementing both board and senior management changes, meant that the group was able to reduce annualised expenditures by £12m, significantly reduce losses from unprofitable stores, and operate the group's stores at a best in class efficiency level for the sector, all while improving guest scores to our highest levels on record," Hostmore said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange last week. "Unfortunately, all of the board's efforts to implement a lasting solution to support the long-term financial future of the business came against a highly challenging trading and macroeconomic backdrop, and efforts to create value for shareholders through the proposed acquisition of TGI Fridays, while well-advanced, encountered adverse events outside of the board's control." It was unclear how much Breal and Calveton were likely to pay for TGI Fridays in the UK, although one industry source expressed confidence in their ability to run a slimmed-down version of the business successfully. "They are seasoned hospitality people," the source said. The deal is understood to include the chain's existing leases and the right to use the TGI Fridays brand in the UK. The collapse of TGI Fridays' UK parent comes less than six months after it struck a deal to reverse the US restaurant business of the same name into London-listed Hostmore. Breal, Hostmore and Teneo, which is handling the administration, declined to comment, while Calveton could not be reached for comment. Thoughts? ☎️ #hospitality #cocktails #drinks #business #property #bars #deals @skynews https://lnkd.in/eT8FfAfT

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Ready to make this festive period your biggest win yet? 🎄 With a 123% spike in searches for “Christmas party venues” over the last three months, it’s clear that the holiday season is heating up fast. As the rush picks up, it’s more important than ever to use technology to create unforgettable guest experiences, keep operations running smoothly, and cut down on extra expenses. Curious about how to boost your returns with hospitality tech during the festive period and beyond? At Tevalis, we’ve spent years helping venues get their tech in top shape for the holiday hustle. That’s why our amazing marketing team have created a straightforward Q4 guide packed with insights to help you Serve Up Success this festive period. 🎁 Remember reliabie, scalable epos technology is not just for Christmas! Check out the link below to make sure you’re ready to finish the year strong! #Christmas #ServeUpSuccess #Hospitality #HospitalityTech #OperatorGuide

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Losses Reduced At Booths After Year Of Robust Sales Growth Upmarket northern grocer Booths has delivered improved annual results after recovering from the impact of high inflation and the cost of living crisis. Newly filed accounts in Companies House covering the 12 months to 30 March 2024 show the retailer’s overall sales increased by 6.7% to £381.7m. Booths noted that it had benefitted from increased football, higher basket spend due to price inflation, and an additional Easter period when compared to the previous financial year. The group did not reveal like-for-like figures but said they increased. Having slipped into the red in 2023 due to higher costs and weaker sales, Booths’ pre-tax losses eased from £4.0m to £1.6m in the latest period. Meanwhile, EBITDA increased by £0.9m to £8.6m. The group revealed that it was continuing to utilise funds built up during the pandemic to make improvements to its operating systems and refurbish its stores. The first phase of an overhaul of its base sales, stock and systems infrastructure is expected to be completed by March 2025. Meanwhile, Booths noted that its customer experience score had increased after taking actions such as improving its café offer, enhancing value through loyalty card, and removing nearly all its self-scanning checkouts. A board statement in the accounts said: “The financial year continued to see the challenges of high inflationary pressures, high interest rates and cost-of-living challenges experienced by all, albeit at reduced levels compared to financial year 2022/23. “Against this background, we are pleased to report results above those planned at the beginning of the financial year, thus providing a continued sustainable platform for future growth. This was again achieved by staying true to our purpose through which we aim to inspire and nourish our customers’ desires for delicious food and drink.” After offloading its loss-making Hale Barns store to Asda in April, Booths now trades from 26 stores across Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. The board concluded: “We have taken a prudent approach to delivering sustainable growth in 2023/24 and will continue to keep a weather eye on the trading background while introducing new and better ways of operating.” NamNews Implications: * Good to see constructive changes at Booths paying off. * However, in the interest of greater clarity… * …making it easier for suppliers to help… * …it would to have the inflationary element stripped out of the sales figure * i.e. volume sales… * …and also like-for likes reflected. * Finally, some reference to Booths’ experience of brand-to-own-label migration… * …and impact of the discounters… * …would place Booths in the context of other mults from a supplier perspective. #Turnaround

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News Link: https://lnkd.in/gpMiBVab The UK's retail sector saw a decline in sales volumes for the year ending in June, reversing the modest growth noted last month, as per the CBI. #ukretail #retailers #consumers #CBI #salesgrowth #TextileToday

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