Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Sector & Pub Sector

Just Eat’s Irish subsidiary delivers a €9.2m profit

The Irish Times – 25.09.2019         

Food delivery company Just Eat served up profits of €9.2 million at its Irish unit last year, a 95 per cent jump on the previous year as a result of “substantial increases in turnover” helped by growth in its market share. The company, which agreed in August to merge with its Amsterdam-based rival, Takeaway. com, posted the increase in profit before tax as revenues rose almost 33 per cent to €27.2 million, according to recently filed accounts. Just Eat has been operating in an increasingly crowded sector, a factor that contributed to its decision to merge with Takeaway.com in a deal that values the company at £5 billion. The tie-up will create a food delivery group that had a combined 360 million orders worth €7.3 billion in 2018. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year.

Freshly Chopped’ Re-Opens Baggot Street Outlet

www.checkout.ie – 18.09.2019

Freshly Chopped’ has re-opened its outlet on Baggot Street with a new name and concept entitled ‘Freshly Chopped Innovation Kitchen’. Following a complete redesign of the menu and service model, the healthy food company said that it has created a 'more streamlined preparation and ordering system.' The group said that the refurbished outlet will also innovate by regularly trialling new menu options and product ranges, which could then roll out across the Chopped network. Since opening its first outlet on Baggot Street outlet in May 2012, Freshly Chopped has expanded to include over 50 outlets throughout Ireland and internationally. Brian Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Freshly Chopped commented, "The new-look Baggot outlet is a first of its kind for Freshly Chopped, but we may look to expand the concept to other locations around the country as we continue our expansion.”

Wetherspoon Boss Seeks Outlets In Ireland For 30 More Pubs

Hospitality Ireland – 16.09.2019

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has said that he might open in the region of 30 more pubs across Ireland. Speaking with the Sunday Business Post, Martin said: If things go well here, we might have 20 or 30 pubs here in ten or 15 years.” The UK-based pub chain which operates more than 900 pubs in Britain and Ireland, reported a higher annual pretax profit last Friday. In June, 2017 the group was granted permission to open a ‘Super bar’ and hotel on Camden Street in the heart of the capital, in a €4 million investment. “Both in the UK and Ireland, accommodation is very much a new thing for us,” Martin told the newspaper, “it’s gone well so far, with occupancy levels, so it’s a possibility to pursue in other locations.”