Survey finds more salt in coffee shop cakes than in Big Macs and crisps – For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say
Survey finds more salt in coffee shop cakes than in Big Macs and crisps Coffee shop cakes can contain as much salt as a Big Mac, according to a survey by the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) of 159 foods and 28 hot drinks from six leading coffee shop and fast-food chains. The worst offender was a fruit scone from Caffe Nero that contained 2.1g of salt, the same as a McDonald's Big Mac and more than one-third of the recommended adult daily intake. McDonald's Low Fat Blueberry Muffin had 1.7g of salt, more than the 1.4g found in its Bacon and Egg McMuffins. Muffins on average were found to harbour twice as much salt as cupcakes, and 85% had more than the 0.5g of salt found in a bag of crisps. EAT, Starbucks, and Pret a Manger sweets also failed the salt test. CASH warns that overdosing on salt can lead to osteoporosis and high blood pressure, and estimates every gram of salt removed from the diet could prevent 6,000 heart-related deaths and save the NHS up to £1.5b - 23 October
Read the full article inThe Daily Mail>>
Outgoing boss believes Whitbread is poised to weather the age of austerity Whitbread chief executive Alan Parker, who retires next month on his 64th birthday after six years at the helm, believes he will leave the business in good shape to weather the coming "age of austerity". During his tenure, Parker trimmed down a sprawling business with 10 leisure divisions into one focused on running the UK's largest coffee shop and budget hotel chains, delivered a total return of 147% and increased its share price by 107%. "There are no signs in our business of any double-dip recession or negative impact of the cuts at the moment," he said. "In terms of Costa Coffee], the market reaction has been outstanding. We've had 34 consecutive quarters of like-for-like sales growth." Meanwhile, he added, the flight of large corporation staff from full-service to budget hotels had boosted Premier Inn's occupancy from 70% to 79% this year. Parker also expressed his belief that the 1,716-strong Costa chain would not have reached its market-leading position under other hands: "If it had been in private equity hands, it would have been flipped at least twice and it would not be of the size or profitability that it is today." - 23 October
Read the full article inThe Daily Telegraph>>
Euro Hostel plans expansion into England Glasgow-based hospitality business Euro Hostel plans to make its first move into England as it opens at least five new hostels over the next five years. Its low-cost revitalisation of the hostel experience - offering en-suite bathrooms and all the amenities expected in budget hotels - has proved successful in Glasgow, where it runs a 350-bedroom hostel, and in Edinburgh. The group is spending £6m on its UK debut with a 260-bedroom hostel that is due to open in Newcastle next spring, creating 40 new jobs. Rates, including breakfast, start from £16 for a dormitory bed and £29 for a single room. Euro Hostel managing director William McClelland intends to open a total of 1,500 new bedrooms across five or six hotels that will be located in cities such as Manchester, London and Aberdeen. He added that, while the expansion had been constrained by the banks' clampdown on credit, the situation "was now beginning to loosen" - 23 October
Read the full article inThe Sunday Herald>>
Marriott hotel and £100m casino planned for Hull A 185-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott hotel, four restaurants and a £100m, 53,000 sq ft casino are part of a proposed development in the former Rank Hovis Clarence Mills in Hull. They would be housed, along with student accommodation, in a planned 23-storey skyscraper that would become the city's tallest building. Manor Mills Development hopes to start work on the project next year if Apollo Resorts is successful in winning a "large casino" licence from the council. Hull is one of just eight UK cities allowed to develop a large casino. Manor Mills believes the project would create 1,000 jobs and attract foreign tourists to the area. Apollo is expected to submit its application next month and a decision will be made by the end of January if there are no other applicants. Otherwise, the council will delay its decision until July - 22 October
Read the full article inThe Yorkshire Post>>
By Angela Frewin
E-mail your comments to Caterer News here.
Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Caterersearch.com jobs
|
