All articles by Thomas Lawrence

Thomas Lawrence

Chick-fil-A UK shutdown: A bellwether for brands?

Chick-fil-A is on the verge of closing their only English outlet following protests from LGBTQ+ campaigners. Consultants should take note, reports Thomas Lawrence

Cannabis in Australia: a gateway to Asia?

Cannabis – recreational and medicinal – faces stringent regulation across the Asia Pacific region. Change is filtering through, but slowly, says Thomas Lawrence

Hospitality in 2044: BRITA teleports sector leaders to the future

What will the world of food, drink and hospitality look like 25 years from now? BRITA Professional’s event in London sought to provide an answer

Where next for the UK meat industry?

The onward march of plant-based diets continues, and with it a period of soul-searching for meat manufacturers, reports Thomas Lawrence

Loyalty programs: growth gathers pace

Loyalty programs are on the rise according to new research from Gartner – but restaurants are at risk of being squeezed by more innovative operators

US restaurant industry growing amid groundswell of change

US restaurant industry profits, employment rates and business conditions are all on the up according to a National Restaurant Association report, but is everything as it seems? Thomas Lawrence reports

The Food Institute highlights ongoing consolidation despite yearly drop

The Food Institute’s analysis of mergers and acquisitions in food in 2018 paints a mixed picture, with eye-watering deals against a backdrop of overall decline

UN report ups the ante on health and sustainability

A damning UN report suggests time is running out to reverse environmental damage caused by waste and pollution, with major implications for businesses

Internorga 2019: away from the show

Internorga promises another packed schedule on its return to Hamburg this month; what is there to see and do outside the Hamburg Messe und Congress?

NAFEM and FCSI TAD Symposium: away from the show

NAFEM and the FCSI The Americas Symposium are just weeks away; what should you do if you get some downtime?