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Pizza Hut to close 68 UK restaurants

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Pizza Hut to close 68 UK restaurants


Charlotte EdwardsBusiness reporter, BBC News

Getty Images A person reaches into a pizza box and cuts a pizzaGetty Images

Pizza Hut is to close 68 restaurants and 11 delivery sites in the UK with the loss of 1,210 jobs, after the firm running them fell into administration.

DC London Pie Limited, which operates Pizza Hut’s UK restaurants, appointed FTI Consulting as administrators on Monday.

However, Pizza Hut’s global owner Yum! Brands has agreed to save 64 restaurants, preserving 1,276 jobs.

Pizza Hut is well known for its family-friendly dining and salad bar, but its UK business has been struggling and had previously gone into administration less than a year ago.

DC London Pie had bought Pizza Hut UK’s restaurants from insolvency in January this year. The company also owns Pizza Hut franchises in Sweden and Denmark.

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said: “We are pleased to secure the continuation of 64 sites to safeguard our guest experience and protect the associated jobs.”

Nicolas Burquier, managing director for Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, said: “This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible.”

He added that the immediate priority for Pizza Hut was “operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition”.

Zoe Adjay, a senior lecturer in hospitality at the University of East London, said Pizza Hut had been “at the forefront of bringing fast food into the UK” in the 1970s, but had struggled to remain relevant amid increased competition.

“The pizza market has become a lot more upmarket,” she said. “There’s a lot more high-end pizza and they’ve taken a huge market share.”

Ms Adjay added that Pizza Hut had also failed to establish itself on social media in the same way as some of its competitors.

Increased operating costs and “ongoing consumer caution” will likely have contributed to Pizza Hut’s challenges, according to Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.

“DC London Pie had rescued Pizza Hut’s UK operations from insolvency less than a year ago, but making a success of a big-name casual dining businesses is a tough job.

“Taking back the brand looks a smart move by Yum! Brands as it has decades of data about how pizza lovers like to consume and exactly what factors need to coalesce to make a location a success.”



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Smartworld Developers enters Noida, to invest Rs 2K cr on 1st realty project – The Times of India

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Smartworld Developers enters Noida, to invest Rs 2K cr on 1st realty project – The Times of India


Realty firm Smartworld Developers will invest around Rs 2,000 crore to build its first project in Noida, as part of the company’s plan to expand beyond the Gurugram property market. Smartworld Developers has announced its entry into Noida, which is an important micro-market in the Delhi-NCR. The company has acquired a 6-acre land parcel in Sector 98 along the Noida Expressway through an auction process for Rs 414 crore, it said in a statement. Smartworld Developers will build a mixed-use project comprising premium branded residences, high-street retail, and serviced homes. The company will invest around Rs 2,000 crore to build this project, while the estimated revenue exceeds Rs 3,000 crore. “Entry into Noida is a significant milestone for Smartworld Developers as we further strengthen our presence in the NCR region. Noida’s rapidly evolving infrastructure and its growing importance as a key real estate hub offer immense potential,” said Ashish Jerath, President – Sales & Marketing, Smartworld Developers. The company is in discussions with a leading global brand for a potential collaboration on the Noida project. Smartworld Developers clocked Rs 6,400 crore worth of sales bookings last fiscal year, a remarkable 60 per cent annual growth. Gurugram-based Smartworld Developers has delivered around 6.5 million sq ft to date, and another 20 million sq ft is currently under construction. According to real estate consultant PropTiger data, housing sales across eight major cities fell 95,547 units during the third quarter of this calendar year from 96,544 units in the corresponding period of the preceding year. Sales of residential properties in Delhi-NCR decreased 21 per cent to 7,961 units from 10,098 units, said PropTiger, which Aurum PropTech has recently acquired.





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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?

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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?


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IndiGo faces massive flight cancellations despite DGCA rollback, affecting thousands. Experts like advise on travel insurance claims and proper documentation.

ndiGo Disruption Intensifies: What Travel Insurance Covers During Flight Chaos

There seems to be no end to the mayhem of IndiGo’s operational meltdown as hundreds of flights have been cancelled on Saturday. The chaos has continued despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rolling back the Flight Duty Time Limitations orders, which were the lead cause to disrupt the capability of carriers to maintain regular operation.

Thousands of passengers, from students to senior citizens to professionals, have been affected in the past few days during the flight cancellations, disrupting their plans and schedules. Along with that, they have to face monetary losses too.

Travel insurance is one such option that travelers can use while facing this kind of situation. Not many of people in India are aware of how a travel insurance works and whether all plans cover flight cancellation costs.

Meet Kapadia, Head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar.com said that travel Insurance offers fixed pay outs if the traveller is stranded for a specified number of hours (6–12 hours).

“They also reimburse the cost if the flight is cancelled and traveller has to book a new flight, or arrange hotel stay, cover meals, essentials, and other emergency purchase,” Kapadia added.

Customers, however, should know that a very low-priced/ basic product of travel insurance may not pay for non-medical losses from an airline operational cancellation unless that benefit is purchased, according to Chetan Vasudeva, Senior Vice President – Business Development at Elephant.in, Alliance Insurance Brokers.

“No – basic plans may not fully cover losses from airline operational problems unless the policy explicitly includes or has an option for trip cancellation / carrier cancellation, trip interruption, missed-connection or trip-delay benefits,” Vasudeva added.

He further told that many standard travel policies include only basic medical, baggage and emergency assistance by default. “If you want protection specifically against airline operational issues, check for carrier cancellation/trip cancellation/missed-connection or buy a cancel-for-any-reason add-on cover.”

Beyond the financial safety net , the insurer also provides 24×7 assistance and emergency support to help passengers manage disruption with less stress in unfamiliar locations.

What Should Customers Need To Do To Get Claims?

The first 24 hours after a flight cancellation are crucial for building a strong claim file.

The policyholder should immediately need to obtain written proof from the airline such as an email, SMS, or a formal flight disruption certificate, that clearly state the due cause and timing of the cancellation, explained Vasudeva. “At the same time, this is when policyholder should inform their insurance provider’s helpline immediately after the disruption; quick intimation is often listed as a mandatory requirement in most policies,” he added.

During this period, every incidental expense such as food, hotel stays, transport, or rebooking, should be supported with itemized receipts and payment proofs. If the airline offers alternative arrangements like meal vouchers or free accommodation, passengers need to preserve those records as well, because insurers cross-verify what has already been compensated.

Careful documentation in the first 24 hours substantially reduces the chances of queries, delays, or rejection during the processing of claims, Vasudeva stated.

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North Tyneside Warm Welcome hubs an ‘important’ helping hand

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North Tyneside Warm Welcome hubs an ‘important’ helping hand


People struggling with high heating bills and other cost-of-living pressures are being encouraged to use a series of “Warm Welcome” spaces this winter.

More than 20 places across North Tyneside, including community hubs, libraries and churches, are taking part in the scheme, which also sees free food and drink offered alongside a range of activities.

The Meadows community centre in North Shields is among them, with sessions each Thursday from noon until 14:30 GMT.

Support worker Jen Buchanan says it means help is available at a time of year when it is badly needed.

“There are no boundaries – everybody is welcome. That’s the message we try to get out there.

“They can have something hot to eat, make new friends or even just charge their phones and iPads.

“We also run craft sessions to encourage more people to come and that helps take away any stigma people might have about coming in for food.

“More and people are coming along, which really shows the importance of schemes like this.”

The hubs can also serve as a way to direct people towards long-term help, Ms Buchanan says, for issues such as struggling to pay heating bills, income support or gaining work skills.

“We have a crisis fund for emergencies and can help get someone gas and electric, or refer them to support groups for longer-term problems.

“We’ve even bought someone new shoes because they were walking around wet.”

The scheme is being funded through North Tyneside Council’s Household Support Fund, which the authority says is part of a range of measures aimed at helping people in the area with cost-of-living pressures.

A list of the venues taking part can be found on the authority’s website.



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