The NZ division of the global pizza franchise manages to skirt the rising costs and falling demand seen across the group.
The search is on for New Zealand’s best gastropubs, with entries now open for the inaugural Estrella Damm Top 50 New Zealand Gastropub Awards.
Queenstown-based hotel developer and restaurant operator Kevin Carlin has died suddenly, aged 69.
Auckland restaurateurs Sid and Chand Sahrawat are opening a new pan-Asian restaurant in 2024, which will ring in some changes for its current Sid at the French Café fine dining concept.
Future Hospitality have opened a new restaurant in Queenstown adding a seventh outlet to the group.
Cooks Coffee has been pushed into the red in the half year after taking a $4.8m impairment against the investment made into its shuttered Triple Two brand.
Central Otago’s Monte Christo Winery is now open to the public.
Domino’s stores across Australia and New Zealand have donated 200,000 pizzas through the company’s three-year old Feed the Knead program.
The cluster of hospitality venues near Queenstown are using a restored and repurposed 160-year-old farm.
Savor has reported a net loss after tax of $421,000 for the six months to September 2023, up 80.3% on the loss it reported for the same period last year.
The number of filled jobs in accommodation and food services rose by 5.1% in October 2023, compared to the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.
Chef and hospitality consultant Lucas Parkinson is opening his first Auckland restaurant on the site of the former Piha Cafe this weekend.
The inclusion of hospitality alongside tourism in a government portfolio is deserved recognition of a $14bn sector, say industry groups.
The quality of the food is the most valued characteristic for an on-premise experience amongst all age groups, according to CGA by NielsenIQ’s latest New Zealand Pulse+ Report.
Domino’s is adding purpose-built e-bikes to its delivery arsenal.
Uber Eats has added a handful of new cities to its New Zealand footprint, taking its total to 17 locations.
Burger Fuel Group will hold a special meeting of shareholders on Thursday 14 December 2023 to vote on its proposed return of capital.
Yeast supplier Froth Technologies has successfully raised its target of $10,000 to support the development of a range of home brew yeast pouches.
The Coffee Club franchise brand has won a trio of gongs at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards 2023.
Food rescue app Foodprint arrives in the Bay of Plenty.
The Lindis Group has teased the launch of a new private dining experience called The Black Diamond.
Heineken has joined forces with geneticist Andrew Shelling to develop a taste kit that allows beer enthusiasts to understand the science behind their flavour preferences.
The Restaurant Association is receiving growing feedback from businesses about decreased patronage, which, combined with the escalating costs of goods and labour, is significantly affecting the industry.
Wahlburgers, the quick service restaurant chain founded by actor Mark Wahlberg has opened today in Queenstown – the franchise’s second New Zealand location after Auckland.
Good Spirits Hospitality is set to make its $600,000 shareholder payout on 5 December 2023.
Venues Ōtautahi is reporting strong demand for premium hospitality spaces at Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch.
More than 50 restaurants throughout the motu have signed on to participate in this year’s annual DineAid Christmas campaign to raise money for the City Missions in the lead-up to Christmas.
Cooks Coffee is to liquidate its Triple Two coffee franchise business, according to a note on UK’s Companies House which confirmed a voluntary liquidator had been appointed.
Spending in cafes and restaurants weakened over October 2023, according to Worldline.
Good Spirits Hospitality is going ahead with a payout of $600k to its shareholders related to its asset sale, despite it being technically voted down via a conditional resolution last week.
Burger Fuel has secured initial terms from the High Court for its proposed return of approximately $4.1m to shareholders.
The Rugby World Cup delivered a “significant boost” to hospitality venues, according to Hospitality New Zealand, which said footfall was up over the 50-day tournament.
The number of filled jobs in accommodation and food services rose by 9,075 or 6% in September compared with the same month a year earlier.
Burger Fuel shareholders are in line for a $4m payout related to a proposed tie-up with Subway that never came to pass.
Uber Eats is running a promotion to tie-in with the Rugby World Cup final which will see it offer four key menu items at roughly 1987 prices – being the year the All Blacks first won the tournament.
Restaurant Brands has reported increasing sales in a third-quarter trading update, but there is no word on how its bottom line is faring following a first half when profit plummeted on rising costs.
Cooks Coffee has appointed RSM UK Restructuring Advisory as administrators to its Triple Two coffee franchise business.
A post-election sentiment survey of Restaurant Association of New Zealand members has shown optimism at the change of government to a National-led coalition.
Central Otago’s annual food and beverage celebration, Eat.Taste.Central, is back for another two-week festival of flavour showcasing the best of the region’s food and wine.
Waipara restaurant, cellar door and winery, Black Estate, has won the Supreme Establishment award and Outstanding Regional Establishment at the Canterbury Hospitality Awards.
The NZ Alcohol Beverages Council has come out in support of a group of Wellington bar owners who have joined together to fight against what they call unfair treatment by liquor licence agencies.
Iconic Auckland Eats, the annual list of the top 100 dishes in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, opens for nominations on Tuesday, 17 October.
Dunedin chef Quiel Mallari has taken out top place at the Lee Kum Kee New Zealand Developing Chefs Challenge 2023.
Good Spirits Hospitality’s lender has approved the distribution of a $600k dividend to shareholders following the sale of the company’s assets.
Queenstown Lakes District Council has lifted its boil water notice for its Kelvin Heights water distribution zone, with immediate effect.
The average salary in hospitality and tourism totalled $61,607 in Q3 2023, up 8% from the same period last year, according to data from Trade Me Jobs.
Hardy St Eatery has been named the Supreme Establishment at the Nelson Hospitality Awards.
Good Spirits Hospitality will be no more after it completes the $20.7m sale of its eight operating venues to Brew on Quay.
Central Otago hospitality business Monteith’s Brewery Bar in Alexandra has been put up for sale.
The 9.8% growth in sales reported in quarter two hospitality data from Stats NZ should be read with caution, as it masks significant challenged faced by the sector, according to the Restaurant Association.
A new strategy for Hospitality New Zealand and more integration with businesses and stakeholders are top of the agenda for the association’s new chief executive, Steve Armitage.
A new Asian supermarket and a handful of quick service brands are heading to a retail development in Auckland’s Westgate, where US retail giant Costco opened its first New Zealand store.
Christchurch City Council is calling for registrations of interest to operate mobile food truck or trailers at allocated sites throughout the greater Christchurch and Banks Peninsula areas.
After a post-Covid bounce, the UK coffee chain franchise lost momentum, says Cooks Coffee, which is pushing on with its other brand Esquires.
Hospitality and tourism job advertisements jumped 20% in August 2023 compared with the previous month, according to SEEK’s latest Employment Report.
Supreme Coffee is overhauling the former South Town Club cafe in Christchurch.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has set up a dedicated page on its website with advice and information on the Cryptosporidium outbreak.
The Restaurant Association has launched its Engaging Rangatahi initiative.
Operators also say they have seen an unusually high number of staff sick in recent days, although the exact cause is unknown.
New Zealand food rescue app, Foodprint, is available in the South Canterbury towns of Lincoln, Ashburton and Timaru from today.
Subway has launched an in-app delivery service, Subway Delivers.
Chef Joshua Ross of Wellington has been named the inaugural winner of the 2023 Visa New Zealand Hospitality Scholarship.
The newly established boutique luxury hotel, Majestic at Mayfair, is leading the way with five nominations in this year’s Canterbury Hospitality awards.
The QSR group is looking at options to continue expanding its footprint in NZ after new franchisee demand dwindles in the tough economic climate.
Christchurch hospitality and accommodation provider Springs Junction Café and Motor Inn has been ordered to pay $36,000 for breaching multiple employment standards during the 2020 Covid pandemic.
The winner of Burger Wellington presented by Garage Project 2023 is One80 Restaurant with their Goan Chicken Ros Pao burger.
The Restaurant Association has launched the Te Tai Tokerau Roadshow, which comprises a series of seminars designed to address crucial topics within the hospitality sector.
Good Spirits Hospitality is on track to complete its $20.7m conditional sale to Brew on Quay in the fourth quarter, having received sign off from its lender and 24.99% owner Pacific Dawn.
The QSR operator says it is pulling out all the operational stops to improve profitability, as the economic environment hampers cost recovery through price rises.
Alcohol sector stakeholders say the passing of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Bill could be devastating for breweries and tap rooms across New Zealand.
Food manufacturer and retailer Wishbone ran out of road owing creditors more than $2.3m as sales declined and costs ramped up, according to the first liquidators report for its parent company.
A new podcast series offering listeners insight into Aotearoa’s culinary scene has been launched by the Restaurant Association, with support from the Hospitality Training Trust.
The country’s largest dedicated coffee chain, Columbus Coffee, is the latest brand to sign the Australia-New Zealand Better Chicken Commitment for its 75 café locations.
Eat Street’s Atticus Finch was cream of the crop at the Rotorua Hospitality Awards on Sunday night, taking out three awards including the supreme establishment award.
The Brewers Association of New Zealand, Brewers Guild of New Zealand and Hospitality New Zealand have jointly called on the government to freeze excise on beer in 2023 and introduce a new lower rate on keg beer.
Burger Wellington presented by Garage Project is set to take over the capital starting tomorrow as part of the August Edition of Visa Wellington On a Plate.
Dining across on-premise experiences, casual restaurants and in-room are popular choices for Kiwis on holiday, according to new data from CGA by Nielsen IQ.
Businesses in New Zealand will save an estimated $105m each year by a reduction in fees to accept Mastercard and Visa payments, according to the Commerce Commission.
Rising input costs, particularly for ingredients and wages in NZ, are hitting Restaurant Brands’ bottom line.
A members’ bill to make it easier for wineries to sell samples at the cellar door has had its first reading in Parliament.
Good Spirits Hospitality is asking its lender to permit a payout to shareholders from the proceeds of its sale, even though its disposal price is less than its debt pile.
Good Spirits Hospitality’s Geoff Tuttle and Nourish Group founder Richard Sigley are part of the group buying the nine-strong portfolio.
Some 125 New Zealand wineries are in the running to be selected for Air New Zealand’s business premier cabins and some lounges.
Nelson’s Sprig + Fern Brewing Co says it will not put prices up despite the government’s recent increase in alcohol excise tax.
A number of large and small food and beverage firms have been listed as creditors of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.
New Zealand Venue Co has bought the Morningside Tavern and neighbouring event space, Glasshouse, in Auckland.
Hospitality New Zealand has welcomed legislation that allows venues to extend trading hours without having to apply for a special licence so patrons can watch live televised Rugby World Cup matches.
Hospitality businesses can open longer for the men’s Rugby World Cup after the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill passed its third reading.
Cardrona Alpine Resort has launched a new food venture and named it ‘Carol’s’ in recognition of a long-serving staff member.
SkyCity will open a new Pacific-inspired restaurant in October headed by chef Michael Meredith.
Savor has confirmed key details of its upcoming Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and nomination of directors.
The unique floating coffee and burger stop on the popular Lake Dunstan Cycle and Walking Trail is up for sale.
Two thirds of consumers in New Zealand change their visitation habits based on the time of year, according to the latest CGA Consumer Pulse Report.
Auckland’s Restaurant Month is back from 1-31 August 2023.
DoorDash is launching in Auckland in a move the company said marks a significant milestone in its expansion in New Zealand.
After steering Hospitality NZ through the pandemic, White signs off on an ’empty tank’ but with high hopes for the resilient industry.
Good Spirits Hospitality has received final bids as part of the sales process for its nine-strong portfolio of venues.
The repairs following the summer storms and tourism recovering much faster than expected are among the four reasons New Zealand’s economic slowdown is not as bad as expected, says Dominick Stephens.
Botswana Butchery Queenstown wins best restaurant and industry veteran Tony Crosbie is inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame.
SkyCity Entertainment’s general manager of Auckland hospitality, David Allot, has been named the Hospitality Industry Leader of the Year.
Cooks Coffee is expecting strong store growth in the 2024 financial year, after a year marred by supply chain disruption which also saw its financial performance dip.
It marks the end of Julie White’s tenure as CEO of Hospitality NZ, with Steve Armitage taking over.
A Minister of Hospitality is just one of seven asks the hospitality industry has of whatever government is elected on October 14.
Good Spirits Hospitality is expecting final bids shortly as part of the sales process for its nine-strong portfolio.
Hospitality New Zealand has applied to become the bargaining agent for hospitality employers, which would see it enter negotiations on an industry pay arrangement under the Fair Pay Agreements Act.
Invest South and Mainland Angel Investors have invested in Frist Table, bringing the Queenstown-based venture’s capital raise to $3.5m.
Australian industry stalwart Sam Egerton will be speaking at Hospitality New Zealand’s conference, alongside others including Kevin Biggar, Melissa Muirhead, Ashley Fell, and Dan Te Whenua Walker.
Card spending in the hospitality industry rose to $1.18bn in May 2023, up 7.6% compared with the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.
New Zealand hospitality businesses are feeling increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy, according to the latest survey conducted by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.
McDonald’s Restaurants’ New Zealand business saw revenue jump to $304.99m in the year to December 2022, up 21.3% from the previous year.
The hospitality sector has led an increase in the number of filled jobs for the March 2023 quarter, according to Stats NZ.
Former Auckland destination boss and Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s chair, Steve Armitage, has been appointed Hospitality New Zealand’s new chief executive.
Burger Fuel Group has reported a preliminary net profit after tax of $900,418 for the 12 months to 31 March 2023, up 56.3% on the previous year.
The Restaurant Association said it is ready to come to the bargaining table to reach a Fair Pay Agreement for the hospitality sector “that works for both employers and workers”.
Tasmanian company The Udder Way has partnered with Waikato owned and operated Green Valley Dairies to launch a reusable milk keg for hospitality operators.
Neo Café & Eatery and Pravda Café & Grill were the big winners in the 2023 Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival Awards.
The number of filled jobs in accommodation and food services rose by 17,138 in April 2023, up 12.2% on the same month last year.
Immigration NZ has made changes to visa conditions for new Partner of Worker Work Visas which may affect hospitality employers, according to the Restaurant Association.
SkyCity is opening New Zealand’s highest bar in partnership with champagne brand Moët & Chandon.
Auckland hospitality group Savor’s revenue rose 70% to $52.4m for the year to March 2023, with EBITDA also jumping 70% compared to the previous 12 months to $5.2m.
Hawke’s Bay’s Craggy Range, Christchurch’s Kaiser Brew Garden, and Queenstown’s Kamana Lakehouse lead the nominations in the 2023 Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence.
The total volume of actual retail sales fell 4.1% in the March 2023 quarter, compared with the March 2022 quarter, according to Stats NZ today.
The Hospo Hui will bring together leaders in New Zealand food and hospitality to help chart the future of the industry.
Hospitality New Zealand says the government’s Wellbeing Budget 2023 does not do enough to support small businesses.
Chef Celia Drummond of Floriditas won the Visa Wellington On a Plate’s Next Gen Cook Off.
The under pressure Auckland hospitality group reports “good interest” from potential buyers as the sales process for its nine-strong portfolio grinds on.
Hell Pizza is launching a campaign based on a 2022 purchase that saw Florida man Laszlo Hanyecz pay 10,000 bitcoin for two pizzas – a transaction that would be worth NZ$436m today.
MasterChef UK judge William Sitwell is touring Auckland this week to sample the city’s fine dining and food experiences.
West Auckland licensing trust group, The Trusts, is planning to invest $40m to expand its hospitality and liquor store infrastructure.
Sustainable and ethical practices are increasingly influencing consumers’ choices in the hospitality industry, according to the latest CGA data by NIQ’s New Zealand On Premise Consumer Pulse Report.
Renowned international restaurant consultant, Chip Klose, has been announced as the keynote speaker for Hospo Hui 2023.
Food system stakeholders have been linked to the sales process surrounding Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which ran the Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, and went into voluntary administration in October.
The Mānawa Bay premium shopping destination near Auckland Airport will be home to the country’s first fully electric foodcourt, with no gas facilities on site.
Auckland’s first ghost kitchen operates at the front line of fledgling hospitality and food firms, where current challenges are impacting both tenants and the company’s own growth.
Food franchisee Restaurant Brands said it has a single, consistent Enterprise Resource Planning system for the first time, after implementing new software solutions from German company SAP.
M&A activity in NZ remained steady in the first quarter despite economic headwinds, according to PwC, with some high-profile food players spicing up activity.
Lenders to Good Spirits Hospitality have once again deferred a March quarter interest payment, as it pursues a sale of the business.
The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application from Reward Supply Co Pty Limited seeking clearance to acquire Southern Hospitality Limited.
DB Breweries has completed a deal which creates what it says is the largest hospitality group in the country, Star Hospitality.
The number of filled jobs in the accommodation and food services sector reached 18,101 in March 2023, up 12.9% on the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.
New Zealand Q1 sales jump 9.2%, with Australia delivering the best regional numbers for the QSR group.
Visa, supported by Visa Wellington on a Plate, is launching a new hospitality industry scholarship open to candidates across New Zealand, valued at NZD $30,000.
Hospitality technology platform First Table has passed the $1m in its capital raise after extending the length of time of the offer.
InterContinental Wellington has launched GPO, a new restaurant that pays homage to the iconic General Post Office that once occupied the same site.
DoorDash has teamed up with some Wellington and Christchurch eateries to create a campaign providing $1 menu items this weekend.
Foley Holdings has renamed Nourish Group as Foley Hospitality and appointed a national executive chef across its 10 restaurants and bars.
Visa Wellington On a Plate’s Producer Marketplace will return to the capital on Monday 17 April after a two-year hiatus with the backing of ANZ.
Australian hospitality supplier Reward Supply Co is seeking Commerce Commission clearance to take 100% ownership of Southern Hospitality.
Hospitality businesses across the country raised $370,000 from the nation’s biggest dinner party on 20 March to support those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Good Spirits Hospitality has been given extra time from its lender to make an interest payment as it continues with an asset sell-down.
Adjusting immigration settings and investing in training, a New Zealand food story, and a minister for hospitality are amongst the Restaurant Association’s priorities in its 2023 Election Manifesto.
Duck Island partners with Coffee Supreme, Griffin’s brings back a Squiggles, Domino’s introduces a taste of India, and Lewis Road Creamery adds raspberry to the mix.
Online food delivery service Menulog has renewed its two-year partnership with the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.
She has led the association through Covid, lobbying hard for support and speaking often of hospitality’s challenges.
Hospitality technology platform First Table is live with its $1.5m capital raise.
Starbucks continues to be the world’s most valuable restaurant brands, according to the 2023 Restaurants 25 report from independent brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
Entries are open for the 25th Hospitality New Zealand Awards for Excellence 2023, run by Hospitality New Zealand and sponsored by Lion New Zealand.
The Heineken-owned brewer is increasing its interests in the hospitality sector in a deal that will create a new 55-venue hospitality group.
Indian restaurant Cassia, by Chef Sid Sahrawat, is relocating to SkyCity after its Fort Street location in Auckland was impacted by weather events and closed in January.
Consumers are planning to spend less across the board apart from on groceries, according to the latest sentiment survey from former BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander.
The latest results of the NZ division of the global pizza chain franchise are a story of impinging food price inflation, but that isn’t deterring a big recruitment drive.
The full festival programme for May’s Visa Wellington On a Plate festival serves up cultural celebrations and culinary crossovers.
Hospitality businesses across the country are coming together to host New Zealand’s biggest dinner party support of those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
A new restaurant led by renowned chef Pete Gawron opens this week at The Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy, near Queenstown.
Stress, insufficient pay, poor work-life balance and a lack of better opportunities contribute to staff churn rates.
Sales were up, but profit was down with Covid-19 costs giving way to inflation squeezing earnings.
The new financial year started ahead of expectations for the hospitality group, with improved sales helping it trim its half-year loss.
Hospitality group Savor says it has successfully completed its fully underwritten capital raise to shareholders.
Retail sales in food and beverage services reached $2.79bn in the December 2022 quarter, a 13.9% increase for the same quarter in 2021 and 2.42% above pre-Covid 2019, according to Stats NZ.
Hell Pizza has officially opened a new store in Brisbane – its second foray into Australia in its almost 30-year history.
Over 100 Domino’s stores across New Zealand will donate $2 from every pizza sold between 3pm and 8pm today, Wednesday 22 February, to Taskforce Kiwi to support those devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Connecticut-headquartered company has enlisted investment bank JP Morgan to explore a sales process for the company, which could fetch an estimated US$10bn.
Foodservice distributors suffer short-term power outages and disrupted deliveries across the North Island.
Visa Wellington On a Plate has announced the return of the Chef Collaboration Series presented by Singapore Airlines after a three year hiatus.
Hospitality software company Loaded Reports has raised $3.25m in equity and debt to help drive expansion overseas.
An Australian private equity firm and owner of sausage maker Hellers is buying the company which owns Boost Juice and Betty’s Burgers.
CEO Jesse Newson says that with Covid fading into the distance and PE firm Pioneer backing its growth plans, it’s now about “getting on and doing it”.
Auckland hospitality group Savor said it made a minor miscalculation when determining the share price for its upcoming $3.25m rights issue.
“The group is now well positioned to accelerate its growth through existing and new venues, as well as exploring M&A opportunities as they arise,” says Savor.
The Restaurant Association says that 85% of respondents in a survey of its members have been impacted by Auckland’s deluge on Friday and ongoing weather extremes.
Auckland’s modern Indian restaurant, Cassia, has temporarily closed with a pop-up opening at sister restaurant Sid at the French Cafe.
Hospitality technology platform First Table is preparing to hit the fundraising trail early this year.
New Zealand delivered the best annual sales growth across the quick service restaurant heavyweight’s four geographies.
A new local series coming to TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ this February will highlight modern Kiwi-Chinese life through food.
The hospitality group is on the way to its $70m revenue milestone next year, after a record December at its key restaurants, including the newly-opened Bivacco.
Salaries in the hospitality and tourism sector have risen 9% year-on-year, according to new data from Trade Me Jobs.
Dual-listed Cooks Coffee Company has reported strong sales across its UK coffee chain for the year to 31 December 2022.
Some 69% of New Zealand consumers are planning on visiting a hospitality venue in December, according to the latest consumer research from CGA by NielsenIQ.
Visa Wellington On a Plate has been awarded ‘Best Culinary Festival in Oceania’ in the World Culinary Awards 2022.
Chef and restaurateur Ben Bayly and a local team have taken over Queenstown’s Bathhouse Restaurant.
Employer accreditations are extended and bus drivers get a boost but there’s little for hard-hit hospo.
The government has approved a loan of up to $1.25m to hospitality software company Loaded Reports.
The hospitality industry needs 30,000 workers to fill summer jobs, says the Restaurant Association.
In the early stages of the pre-Christmas shopping season, spending data show Kiwi consumers outlaid less money on goods but more on hospitality – wining, dining and accommodation – in November.
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Fleur Foods has hit BP stores with a ‘poppa’ size range of offerings.
The sector has out-preformed its pre-pandemic numbers, according to the Restaurant Association.
Visits to the on premise channel were stable in November, but the frequency of visitation was increasing according to CGA’s latest Consumer Pulse report powered by NielsenIQ.
Hospitality New Zealand has paid tribute to hospitality “icon and pioneer” Michael Friend, who has died.
Cooks Coffee Company has seen profit from continuing operations climb 14% to $146k in the half year to 30 September.
One New Zealand BurgerFuel store lost 52 lost trading days in the six month period due to staff shortages.
Hospitality group Savor has posted a half year loss of $2.1m in the six months to the end of September, going further into the red that the $753k of the same time last year.
Good Spirits Hospitality has launched a review of its strategic options after reaching a post-pandemic “crossroad”, according to chair Matt Adams.
Cookie Time is expanding the reach of its Cookie Bar concept, with a new store launching in Dunedin next week serving up some new additions.
Nando’s and Pita Pit are under fire from Animals Aotearoa, which has launched a petition against the quick service restaurant brands for allegedly failing to provide New Zealand customers with the same standards of chicken meat as they do overseas.
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Julie White is calling the proposed Fair Pay Agreement “scarily complex” due to the number of jobs and businesses it must cover.
Reduced items on the menu and price increases are likely as hospitality venues look to recoup lost revenues and counter labour and food price increases, according to the Restaurant Association.
One in five kiwis are heading out for a drink or bite to eat more regularly, according to the latest New Zealand On Premise Consumer Pulse report from NielsenIQ CGA.
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Good Spirits Hospitality has appointed Tonnant Partners as its transaction advisor.
The timing of the Fair Pay Agreements Bill passing into law “could not be worse for an industry already under enormous pressure”, according to the Restaurant Association.
The arrival of the brands, which includes TGI Fridays, follows a deal with London-based World Franchise Associates.
New store openings, foreign exchange wins and lower levels of Covid-19 disruption have helped Restaurant Brands to solid third quarter sales of $322.2m, albeit with a mixed bag across markets.
Online job advertisements for hospitality roles are growing faster than any other sector as demand for labour remains high.
The owners of Auckland restaurant Cassia, will open their third location in the city next week.
Cooks Coffee Group’s estimated number of outlets is likely to be over 200 by full year 2025 if its current growth rate keep up.
The beverage business secures another significant nationwide contract for its brands, which includes its Pepsi flagship.
Unite today launched its Fair Pay Agreement 4 Hospo campaign at its annual conference, in an effort to achieve “decent pay and conditions” for employees in the sector.
Hospitality New Zealand and Hotel Council Aotearoa have welcomed changes to immigration settings that will enable unqualified chefs to work in New Zealand.
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The hospitality business that operates Sky Stadium’s catering and hospitality services has teamed up with ServiceIQ to launch, Project Human Capital.
Hospitality New Zealand is anticipating a move to relax immigration requirements for skilled chefs wanting to come and work in the country.
Cooks Coffee Company is expecting to grow the number of cafes operating under its Esquires and Triple Two brands by 10% before the end of the year.
Good Spirits Hospitality has negotiated new terms in relations to its $27.5m debt pile from lender and shareholder Nomura, but has been given a deadline for M&A or an equity deal too.
Next year’s Visa Wellington On a Plate 2023 festival theme is Breaking the Mould, says organiser The Wellington Culinary Events Trust.
A celebration of Blue Pacific cuisine kicks off today at Peter Gordon’s Homeland Restaurant at Westhaven, Auckland.
Nearly two-thirds of New Zealand consumers are more likely to try new drinks in the on premise channel, according to the latest research from CGA by NielsenIQ.
There are just two days left until nominations close for the annual Iconic Auckland Eats programme.
According to new data from online food delivery platform Menulog, orders in Invercargill increased by 141% since June last year, with a noticeable spike in demand for convenience items.
Domino’s will raise cash for Youthline with $1 from every pizza sold between 4pm-9pm on Thursday 29 September 2022 donated directly to the youth charity.
McDonald’s 170 restaurants across New Zealand are preparing to collectively employ 2,000 new staff on National Hiring Day, this Saturday 24 September.
Nominations are now open for Aucklanders to nominate their favourite dish for the 2022 Iconic Auckland Eats list.
Business, retail and hospitality stakeholders welcome the end of mask mandates and the scrapping of the traffic light system.
A one-off public holiday to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been welcomed by Hospitality New Zealand, even though it may come with a cost for operators.
Spend in the hospitality industry reached $1.15bn in August 2022, up 78.2% from $646m during the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.
Ōtautahi Christchurch’s post-Covid Turn up the Heat festival in August saw more than 50 central city hospitality joints join a fiery food competition, each offering a different spicy dish or drink.
The QSR group is losing its chief executive of 15 years, Russel Creedy, as well as its even longer-serving chief financial officer.
The Restaurant Association is calling the government’s Better Work Action Plan a ‘duplication’ of work it completed in its own roadmap more than a year ago.
Nando’s is the latest quick service restaurant chain to be put in the firing line by Consumer NZ which is campaigning against misleading delivery fees.
“These remain uncertain times and we will have to see how things develop over the next 6-12 months,” says CEO Josef Roberts.
The group reports another loss and appoints an investment bank to review the business.
The Auckland restaurant group has unveiled ambitious growth plans, which will see it hit a $70m milestone in 2024, then $100m by building out its Amano and OJI brands.
Operations in all of the company’s markets – NZ, Australia, Hawaii and California – have been stifled by staff availability and supply chain issues.
The Wellington Culinary Events Trust has cancelled this year’s Highball festival, which was scheduled to take place on 23 & 24 September 2022.
The easing of border restrictions has contributed to sales volume growth in the accommodation sector of almost $71.3m, an 11% rise between the March and June 2022 quarters, according to Stats NZ.
Lion said it is now seeing more than 1,000 monthly orders through the new customer portal and app it launched last year.
Hospitality New Zealand has welcomed a boost to New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa programme ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer challenged by worker shortages.
Registrations have opened for this year’s Hospitality Championships, supported by NZ Chefs Association as part of the Hospitality Summit 22.
Cooks Coffee Company plans to dual list on the UK’s Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market.
Chef Ben Bayly is adding Origine to his list of ventures, which include Ahi, Ahi Organic Gardens, and The Grounds at Whoa! Studios in Auckland, as well as Aosta, Little Aosta, and Blue Door Bar in Arrowtown.
Quick service restaurant chain Domino’s has launched a new Burger Joint pizza range.
Retail NZ has welcomed the return of international cruise ships to New Zealand for the first time since Covid-19.
Electronic card spending in the hospitality industry reached $1.9bn during July 2022, up from almost $1.1bn in the preceding month of June, according to Stats NZ data.
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SwoleFoods and Domino’s have topped a table which ranks how food delivery service businesses in New Zealand stack up against the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).
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Good Spirits Hospitality Limited has completed the acquisition of the Velvet Bar following receipt of the required regulatory approvals and consent from GSH’s financier.
The 2022 Matariki Dish Challenge in Rotorua and Bay of Plenty has showcased the best of the region’s storytelling and food, with four winners crowned.
Wellington’s Peter Norrie has welcomed his induction into the Hospitality New Zealand Hall of Fame by reflecting on the opportunities in the industry over more than 40 years.
A new piece of patent-pending kit will unlock domestic capacity, while an international opportunity is also being assessed.
Reni Wereta-Gargiulo from Kiwi Kai Nelson has won the Supreme Award at this year’s Māori Women’s Development Inc Māori Businesswoman Awards 2022 held in Tāmaki Mākaurau on Friday, 29 July 2022.
The dramatic increase in sales prices represented a genuine bounce back in confidence for hospitality, says ABC Business Sales.
The pizza chain ships in a new New Zealand general manager from Australia to replace Cameron Toomey, who has been promoted.
Queenstown’s Future Hospitality Group is in celebration mode after winning best bar for Little Blackwood and the excellence in people and culture award for the group at the 2022 Hospitality NZ Awards.
NZX-listed global coffee franchise business Cook Coffee has confirmed it plans to go ahead with a dual listing in the United Kingdom – its largest market.
Hospitality New Zealand is working with international hospitality expert Shane Green to develop a programme which engages workers early, provides access to career pathways and develops leaders of the future.
The Restaurant Association has launched a new accreditation programme for businesses that seek to promote an efficient, productive and harmonious workplace culture.
The economy faces strong headwinds but hospitality is better prepared than many other industries to face the challenges, says Cameron Bagrie.
The quick service restaurant group’s sales are holding up but cost inflation and staff absenteeism put H1 profit forecasts at half of last year.
Hospitality New Zealand is launching a course to ensure all staff working where alcohol is served are trained in responsible service to support harm minimisation.
The South Island’s three-year Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover winning streak has ended with a Bay of Plenty Cafe taking top place in the the competition in 2022.
After a two year hiatus, the New Zealand Hospitality Conference is back taking place at the Grand Millennium in Auckland starting tomorrow.
Ōtautahi Christchurch’s Central City is bringing the heat this August with a festival of 60-plus events ranging from roaming characters, comedy, cabaret, drag, variety shows and a fiery food competition.
“When the Good Spirits Hospitality deal did not proceed, it was felt that there was a significant amount of synergy with other Foley investments in New Zealand,” says Foley CEO Mark Turnbull.
The pizza franchise’s new campaign promotes transparent pricing, following a number of its peers being in the firing line for misleading fees.
To kick off Visa Wellington On a Plate 2022, a mechanics workshop will be transformed into The Sea Breeze Inn, a pop-up restaurant serving sustainably-sourced kaimoana from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
A raft of hospitality outlets were among the fifty businesses that have shared a total of $974,600 from the $1.2m relief fund established by Wellington City Council and the government following the protest occupation in and around parliament earlier this year.
Consumer NZ is calling on businesses to be upfront about pricing after an investigation found that restaurants are charging customers more for items that get delivered.
The changes will allow its kitchen teams to work a four-day week for the same salary.
The Restaurant Association has secured Canadian chef and entrepreneur Eric Pateman as one of the keynote speaker to discuss the possibilities the industry’s recovery at its upcoming Hospo Hui.
The Dallas-headquartered pizza buffet concept is set to open its first outlet in Auckland later this year, and is looking for nine more sites.
Electronic card spending in the hospitality industry fell to $3.3bn in the June 2022 quarter, down around $120m from the $3.4bn recorded for the same period last year.
On-premise visitation is stabilising as Covid-19 restrictions dissipate but cost-of-living concerns are on the rise, according to a survey from CGA.
Consumers will pay more for a healthier drink option, especially in restaurants, according to a new study.
Auckland’s city centre will play host to food, nostalgia, and fine dining to celebrate Restaurant Month from 1 – 31 August.
The average hourly wage in hospitality has increased by $2 to $24.43 this year, higher than the $23.65 living wage.
Nut butter company Fix & Fogg is closing its Wellington shopfront, known as the Eva Street window.
Good Spirits Hospitality’s Duncan Makeig has stepped down from the company’s board with director Matt Adams replacing him as chair.
Climbing rental income bolsters the QSR franchises’ performance to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
A move to digital ordering was the most popular innovation, according to a Restaurant Association survey, with Covid and convenience driving the shift.
The finalists have been revealed in the Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence 2022, organised by Hospitality New Zealand.
Job advertisements for hospitality and tourism roles have jumped 14% in May 2022, compared to April, according to SEEK New Zealand.
Hospitality revenues are starting to recover, with the gap narrowing in May compared with April, according to the latest monthly statistics from the Restaurant Association.
The airline has released details of its new menu, which includes local ingredients like Southland Lamb Prosciutto, Hawke’s Bay extra virgin olive oil and mānuka smoked free-range chicken from the Waikato.
The New Zealand Hospitality Conference has added two more star hospitality figureheads to its lineup this year.
The capital’s annual annual month long food festival, Visa Wellington on a Plate, will include 120 events and pop-ups being held under the 2022 theme A State of Flux.
Hospitality group Savor has posted an improved EBITDA of $3m for the year to 31 March, compared with $2m in the prior year.
Restaurant Brands chief executive Russel Creedy says the company cannot yet commit to a profit outcome for the current financial year because of the uncertain environment.
Signs of inflationary pressure are beginning to show with Xero’s New Zealand Small Business Index falling six points to 127 points in April.
A record 294 entries from more than 150 venues have been received for the 2022 Hospitality Awards for Excellence, hosted by Hospitality New Zealand.
For the month of May, participating Auckland restaurants and bars will be celebrating the Eat, Drink, Love Ponsonby 2022.
Lion is close to completing a reshaping of its NZ operations, allowing it to emerge from Covid concentrated on core.
Good Spirits Hospitality has named director Matt Adams as chair designate after Duncan Makeig signalled his intention to resign the chair following the upcoming June board meeting.
A Southland company has been fined $10,400 after failing to keep a fish sales record system for seafood it was moving between its Te Anau restaurants.
Covid-19 concerns continue to dissipate, but venues and suppliers must now reckon with a reduction in disposable income.
The hospitality industry says changes to migrant worker settings will be a welcome relief for businesses struggling to fill vacancies as the country’s border restrictions ease.
Stats NZ said that in actual terms, monthly card spending on hospitality continued to decrease, down $56m or 4.9% compared with April 2021.
The New Zealand Hospitality Conference is back in-person in July after a two-year hiatus and with a theme of “The Future of Hospitality”.
Food rescue app Foodprint has gone live in the Waikato region officially launching in Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Raglan.
Havana Coffee Works Roastery opened yesterday in Parnell, Auckland – its second location alongside Wellington.
NZ sales were flat as Omicron disrupted store opening hours and the sales mix, particularly in Auckland.
Lion New Zealand is expanding its Healthy Hospo health and wellbeing program to offer in-person events around New Zealand in 2022.
The deal to acquire the 10-strong national portfolio falls over after failing to attract an equity backer.
Entries are now open for Hospitality New Zealand’s 24th annual Hospitality Awards for Excellence, which will be held in person at a gala dinner on 27 July at the Grand Millennium Auckland.
Consumer spending in hospitality over the week leading up to Easter Monday reached $202.8m, bucking a 23% downward trend over the last eight months following the Covid Delta outbreak, according to payment data from Worldline.
Two Thumb Brewing Co is taking over the Christchurch site of the former Fermentist Brewery and Taproom, owned and operated by Lion.
Pizza chain Hell has expanded its reading challenge – now in its eighth year – with the addition of The Great NZ Book trip.
Queensland is initial focus for pizza franchise before a nationwide expansion is considered.
The hospitality industry has welcomed the ditching of capacity limits in time for the important Easter, Anzac Day and school holidays.
The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover is back for a fifth year.
Bars, cafes, and restaurants will be able to fill up again with capacity and seating rules lifted, says Chris Hipkins.
Lone Star has opened its first hotel restaurant within the Mercure Auckland Queen Street.
Auckland-headquartered international coffee chain franchise Cooks Coffee Company intends to exercise the power of sale of shares, following a significant repositioning which included a name change, $5.5m capital raise and share consolidation.
Shane Bracken steps up to the top job following a turbulent period for the sandwich franchise, especially in Australia.
Hospitality businesses will continue to struggle following the government’s decision to keep the country in the red setting of the Covid-19 Protection Framework, say industry groups.
The completion of Auckland pub group Good Spirits Hospitality’s conditional takeover of restaurant owner Nourish Group has been delayed until Q2.
Burger Fuel Group says it is experiencing some short-term, temporary store closures as a result of the Omicron outbreak.
Good Spirits Hospitality has agreed a waiver with its lender Pacific Dawn in respect of the interest due and payable for the quarter ended 31 March 2022.
Pizza chain Hell has launched an Impossible Burger Pizza 2.0 using plant-based food company Impossible Food’s beef product.
Hamilton council has approved a 50% reduction in fees for food safety verifications that take place before the end of June this year.
The changes do not go far enough to help struggling businesses, says industry groups.
Entries are now open for the 2022 Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award targeted at chefs aged 16-25.
The earlier border opening will save many businesses from collapse, says Hospitality New Zealand.
The QSR franchise has used the pandemic to validate new food concepts, and is now working up a plan for a bricks and mortar rollout.
Dunedin’s Alto Cafe has won $10,000 cash, as well as $5000 towards a new website, as part of a hospitality relief campaign.
Hospitality and accommodation operators may still have to put up prices despite the fuel and transport cost cuts announced by the government, says Hospitality New Zealand.
Hospitality venues continue to feel the pressure of Omicron with a 10% drop in card spending last month.
Government guidelines on wage subsidies need to be clearer to protect small business owners including hospitality operators who are being fined for misinterpreting the rules.
Consumer spending at hospitality businesses remains down nearly a quarter on pre-Covid levels, according to data from payment services provider Worldline.
Small businesses are continuing to suffer under the pressure of Omicron and phase three restrictions.
NZ GM Cameron Toomey says finding people to deliver goods will get harder as the volume of delivery products increases.
The new venture is being backed by the Christchurch investor with at least $12m ploughed into it to date.
Business and hospitality groups are pleased the government is ditching self-isolation requirements for returning New Zealanders.
Rising costs saw some margin erosion, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.
The listed companies brush off Covid-19 chills as they look to grow via distribution deals and acquisitions.
t to phase 3 of the Omicron response and an adjustment to conditions in the government’s financial support package announced on Monday.
Hospitality New Zealand is warning many of the hardest-hit businesses in the sector may be ineligible for the government’s new support package.
It will help but many in hospitality may still have to shut, say industry groups.
Three payments capped at $24k each will be available for hard-hit businesses.
Job ads posted on website Seek reached a record in January, however hospitality and tourism ads were down 4% from December.
The beverage giant urges Finance Minister Grant Robertson to “act swiftly, decisively and meaningfully”.
The prominent hospitality brand has called on the government to throw a lifeline to the sector.
A sobering film showing the impact the red traffic light setting is having on hospitality operators across the country, courtesy of Hospitality New Zealand.
The beverage maker expands into Pita Pit’s 87 outlets in a push into NZ foodservice.
Half the industry has seen revenue plummet by more than 40% since NZ shifted to red, says Hospitality NZ.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand wants feedback on new safety and management standards for food service and retail businesses.
Hospitality operators are battling to stay open – and afloat – after Covid cases force widespread closures at the resort.
Restaurants are reporting a near 60% overall decline in revenues since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Cooks Global Foods says sales at its UK-based cafe franchises recovered from Covid-19 ahead of the wider UK coffee market in 2021.
Central Otago’s Amisfield has scooped a couple of key prizes at the prestigious Cuisine Good Food Awards.
World Pizza Day has a charitable feel for fast-food chain Domino’s.
Hospitality New Zealand says the sector also deserves financial assistance to cushion the blow from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hospitality New Zealand says New Zealand’s move into the red traffic light setting has scared people into a “voluntary lockdown”.
The Restaurant Association says 40% of its members reported having to deal with rude or aggressive customers due to the transition on Friday to the traffic light Covid-19 Protection Framework.
More than 232,000 jobs are dependent on New Zealand’s hospitality sector, 137,000 of them directly, according to a new report.
Karma Drinks will donate $12,070 to the #HandsUp4Hospo initiative after its recent ‘Hospo Friday’ initiative – a take on the popular Black Friday.
Exclusion from the government’s $37.5m summer reactivation scheme fro Auckland “another kick in the guts” for struggling hospo morale.
