Miscellaneous

🍽 London, June 19: Atis launches catering feasts for groups of 5+, featuring chicken or veggie options for 10-12 people. Available across central London through Ordit, customers can build custom feasts or choose from popular dishes like garlic butter steak. Introductory offers include £50 off the first order, 10% off the second, and 20% off the third. Co-founder Eleanor Warder highlights growing demand for group catering as the motivation behind this expansion.

🥃 Master of Malt, a UK-based spirits retailer, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. For the first time, it is offering its single cask and small-batch spirits range to wider retail markets across EMEIA, APAC, and North America. The collection features a 40-year-old Girvan whisky, a 29-year-old Tobermory for £199.95, and other rare bottlings. Founded in 1985, Master of Malt plans to release more innovative spirits, including a 50-year-old Scotch.

🏨 Barbara Muckermann leads the world's oldest luxury hotel brand, steering it through growth with a focus on its 125-year legacy. Her strategy leverages European roots, expanding in Asia and the Middle East. In partnership with BTG Homeinns, the brand aims to exceed 100 properties. Muckermann's leadership in ultra-luxury cruising fuels Kempinski's transformation, exemplifying hospitality's evolution. Join the 25th Hospitality Awards on November 25 at InterContinental Paris Le Grand.

🍷 Three whiskies by Ian Macleod—Glengoyne, Tamdhu, and Smokehead—featured on the "Summer Sipping" episode of WineAlive by Oz Clarke and Tony Surgey in July 2025. Glengoyne, distilled near Glasgow, is known for its slow production process. Tamdhu matures exclusively in Oloroso Sherry casks, while Smokehead is an intense Islay whisky. Cocktails like the Glengoyne Honeybee and Smokehead Old Fashioned were crafted using 50ml of each whisky, highlighting their unique flavors. Ian Macleod also owns Edinburgh Gin.

🍴 Tom and Laurissa Heywood were shortlisted at the 2025 Cateys on July 7, 2025, at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London. Despite not winning, Pignut restaurant was nominated for the Newcomer and Sustainable Business Awards. Opened in June 2023 in Helmsley, Pignut focuses on sustainability with a 14-seat venue, earning Three AA Rosettes and a Michelin Guide recommendation. The restaurant will relocate to The Hare in Scawton, enhancing its sustainable practices and adding guest accommodations.

🍽 Bret Thorn, a food and beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, resides in Brooklyn. Previously, he contributed to The New York Sun (2005-2008) and ABC News (1989). Thorn, a Tufts University alum, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and in China during 1988-1989. His work includes writing for the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012) and Oxford Companion (2015). He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

🍴 Chef BJ Lieberman, after working at Husk and Little Pearl, launched Chapman's Eat Market in Columbus, Ohio, in August 2020. The restaurant adapted to pandemic challenges by innovating takeaway dishes, selling over 10,000 pints of ice cream. A year later, Chapman's was highlighted by the New York Times, boosting its popularity. In 2023, Lieberman opened Hiraeth, a fine dining spot, but shifted to Metsi's Italian classics due to evolving diner preferences, opting for a casual atmosphere.

💰 Nectar360 and Marriott Bonvoy have teamed up for an exciting partnership. Nectar members can now earn 500 Nectar points for the next three hotel stays and convert Marriott Bonvoy points into Nectar points. The collaboration offers flexibility to earn and redeem points across 10,000 destinations and 30 hotel brands globally. New Marriott Bonvoy members signed up via Nectar receive a 500-point bonus. Launched this summer, it aims to boost loyalty and brand engagement.

✈️ STARFLYER, a premium Japanese airline, upgraded its STAR LINK loyalty platform with IBS Software's iLoyal solution. Transitioning from a legacy system to a cloud-native platform, STARFLYER launched new mobile and web functionalities, real-time updates, and exclusive rewards. The overhaul includes a revamped mobile app and member portal. Hiroshi Goto, STARFLYER Inc's VP, emphasizes the digital transformation as a key modernization step. Marcus Puffer of IBS praises iLoyal’s adaptability for mid-size and larger airlines.

🧀 Strengthening communities through craftsmanship can transform young people, families, and towns. Business should focus on building character and relationships rather than just making money. The true craft is about shaping hearts and souls. The author values work, character, and meaningful relationships, aspiring to emulate supportive friendships like those with Brian and Rebeccah.