Growth, Experience and Community: What This Week’s Hospitality Openings Tell Us About the Market

There is something incredibly positive about seeing hospitality brands continue to invest in new locations, larger formats and enhanced customer experiences. While headlines often focus on economic challenges, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Across the UK, ambitious operators are expanding, creating jobs, backing the high street and finding new ways to connect with customers where they work, shop and socialise.

A great example of this is Auntie Anne’s, which has opened its latest flagship location at St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff. The opening takes the brand to 51 stores across the UK and Ireland and creates up to 10 new jobs. Beyond serving its famous freshly baked pretzels, the move highlights a clear strategy that many successful food-to-go operators are embracing, securing a presence in high-footfall retail and leisure destinations. With St David’s attracting millions of visitors annually, it provides an ideal platform for the brand to continue building customer awareness while pushing towards its ambitious target of 100 locations across the UK and Ireland by 2030.

The theme of strategic expansion continues with Himalayan street-food operator Momo and Co, which is preparing to open its third London location at Tower Bridge. The move demonstrates the growing confidence of emerging food brands to scale their concepts within the capital while developing long-term expansion plans through both company-owned and franchised locations. For operators across hospitality, it is another reminder that distinctive food propositions with strong brand identities continue to resonate with consumers seeking authentic and memorable dining experiences.

Meanwhile, Chaiiwala has unveiled a new flagship café on Leicester's Granby Street, marking another milestone in what has become one of the UK's most impressive hospitality growth stories. Founded in Leicester just over a decade ago, the brand has expanded to more than 120 UK locations and now has ambitions to reach 500 sites globally over the next ten years. What makes this opening particularly interesting is that it is not simply about adding another site. The larger flagship introduces a new design concept that will shape future openings, incorporating technology-enabled ordering, enhanced seating areas and operational efficiencies designed to improve both customer experience and scalability.

Taken together, these stories reveal some clear trends emerging across both hospitality and retail. Firstly, physical locations remain incredibly important. Despite ongoing digital transformation, customers continue to value spaces that offer experience, convenience and human connection. Secondly, brands are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they choose locations, prioritising retail destinations, travel hubs and community-focused high streets where footfall and dwell time support long-term growth. Finally, operators are investing heavily in customer experience, whether through flagship stores, improved layouts, technology or enhanced food and drink offerings.

There's also a strong community element running through these investments. Whether it is Auntie Anne's creating new jobs in Cardiff, Chaiiwala reinvesting in its hometown of Leicester, or Momo and Co bringing new dining options to another London neighbourhood, these openings contribute positively to local economies while helping keep our town centres vibrant and attractive destinations.

At RHR, we believe these developments demonstrate that confidence remains high among the UK's strongest hospitality and retail brands. Businesses are continuing to invest in people, property and customer experience because they recognise that consumers still value great service, engaging environments and memorable experiences. For recruitment professionals and employers alike, this is an encouraging sign. As brands continue to expand, innovate and enter new markets, demand for talented individuals who can deliver exceptional customer experiences will remain a key driver of growth across both hospitality and retail.