Latest news with #UpperCrust
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Upper Crust owner unveils cost-cutting plan and delays listing Indian business
Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza owner SSP has launched a plan to cut costs and said it would postpone the flotation of its Indian business due to market woes. The group, which runs food outlets at travel locations such as airports and train stations, said it was launching a 'substantial', group-wide, cost-cutting overhaul throughout the next six months amid a more uncertain economic outlook. SSP signalled potential job cuts under the plan, as it said it would 'scale back our support costs' to 'reduce duplication and complexity'. It declined to comment on the possible jobs impact, but said it would also be looking to make savings through other efforts including supply chains, menu changes and staff rota management. The group said the move comes amid a 'heightened level of uncertainty' across some travel markets, in particular in North America due to recent 'geopolitical events'. 'We believe it is prudent to plan for a degree of ongoing uncertainty of demand through the second half,' it added. Turbulent stock market conditions in India have also seen it put back the planned listing of Travel Food Services, which it runs with K Hospitality in India. In the UK, where it runs 55 franchised Marks & Spencer outlets, the group said recent trading had seen like-for-like sales rise 10% in the six weeks to May 11 despite a 'modest' impact from the M&S cyber attack disruption. Patrick Coveney, chief executive of SSP Group, said: 'We recognise the importance of driving enhanced performance, and we are executing against our agenda to achieve this. 'Our accelerated actions include a decisive turnaround plan for our Continental European business, a programme to deliver the full benefits of recent strategic and capital investments and a further step up in initiatives to deliver cost efficiencies.' Half-year results on Tuesday showed underlying operating profits lifted 20% to £45 million in the six months to the end of March. On a statutory basis, it swung to a pre-tax loss of £37 million from profits of £13 million a year earlier. Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Top chef names his favourite Aussie pie shop - and it's a tiny hole in the wall on a busy main road
If you're craving the ultimate Australian meat pie, a top Sydney chef says there's one place that never fails to deliver - and it's on a main road in a beachside suburb. Toby Wilson, the celebrated chef behind Taco King and Ricos Tacos, revealed his go-to lunch spot is none other than The Upper Crust, a humble pie shop on Pittwater Road that's been serving locals for decades. 'The chicken and white wine pie is absolutely the move,' Wilson told Broadsheet, calling the shop his 'childhood pie stop.' And he's not the only one obsessed. Located at 1003 Pittwater Road, Collaroy, The Upper Crust has become something of a pilgrimage site for pie lovers across Sydney - with queues snaking out the door most days and loyal fans declaring it 'the best pie shop in the whole city.' On offer is a mouthwatering menu of classics and inventive twists: steak, potato and cheese; pepper steak; chicken, avocado and brie; beef and burgundy; lamb and rosemary; even a spicy Mexican-style pie for the more adventurous. There are family-sized pies, party pies, sausage rolls, and even excellent coffee for the full lunch hit. The reviews are glowing - and often poetic. Located at 1003 Pittwater Road, Collaroy, The Upper Crust has become something of a pilgrimage site for pie lovers across Sydney - with queues snaking out the door most days and loyal fans declaring it 'the best pie shop in the whole city.' 'Just as in Greek mythology the song of the mermaids attracted sailors, the mouth-watering scent of freshly baked pie crust draws you in irresistibly,' one fan wrote. Another reviewer confessed they're not usually a fan of pies but were completely converted: 'The minced steak and Mexican pies were beyond expectations... the guy next to me told his mates 'hands down the best pie I've had in my life' - and I have to agree.' One devoted customer even declared: 'I've just walked from Dee Why across the shark-infested lagoon and back to buy my pies. It's always worth it.' Others praised the 'friendly, helpful staff' and said the crust was the reason people keep coming back - with some items selling out fast during peak hours. There's a small outdoor seating area, and one customer even received a complimentary mince pie with their order. With chefs, locals, and foodies united in praise, The Upper Crust might just be Sydney's most legendary pie stop - and worth the trip no matter where you're coming from.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Urgent recall for bread due to potential glass contamination
By Published: Updated: An urgent recall has gone out for bread sold throughout the US that may have shards of glass. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the recall after being alerted by Upper Crust Bakery that glass fragments had been found on the top of their bread and rolls. The products were shipped to stores in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Overall, 818 cases of Upper Crust Bakery bread is suspected of containing glass pieces, including 699 cases of the company's 18-ounce Multigrain Sourdough packages. Another 89 cases of four-ounce Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and 30 cases of 20-ounce Whole Grain Multigrain bread were also recalled. For the Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and the Multigrain Sourdough, customers should be looking for packages listed as being from Lot #90. For the Whole Grain Multigrain, the affected bread comes from Lot #92. (Stock image) Shoppers should also look for the packaging code 'CP45' on Upper Crust's Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and 'CP12' on both the Multigrain Sourdough and Whole Grain Multigrain bread. The FDA noted that this incident has been elevated to a Class II recall in their announcement, meaning the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, but is unlikely to lead to long-term serious injuries. As for what consumers need to look out for on store shelves, the FDA revealed that these frozen products were all shipped out in corrugated paper cartons - typical for frozen baked goods to maintain the product's integrity in cold storage and prevent damage. According to the FDA, Maryland-based Upper Crust Bakery LP first notified the health agency on April 12. The FDA officially categorized the alert as a Class II recall on Friday, warning that the imbedded glass could cause injuries to consumers. Only a Class I recall is more serious, which means a product may lead to serious health problems or death - but that does not appear to be the case here. The FDA issuing a bread recall involving glass is a rare event. In fact, there is only one other recorded recall for a problem like this in the last three years. In 2022, Fetting's Frozen Foods LLC issued a recall on their Abby's Bakery Homestyle White Bread Dough over a potential glass contamination. In both incidents, there have been no reports of any injuries due to glass shards lodged in the bread. However, anyone who has purchased the Upper Crust bread or rolls will still need to watch carefully. In the worst case scenarios, swallowing glass fragments can cause tears or perforations in the gastrointestinal lining. There is a risk of bacterial contamination leading to infections. For example, bacteria from the gut could enter the abdominal cavity, causing serious conditions like sepsis. A study published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy noted that sharp objects like glass have up to a 15 percent higher chance of causing a puncture in the stomach or gut than a blunt object. While having the lot numbers is key, consumers who have these products should also inspect the bread for visible glass fragments, as small fragments may not be easily detectable.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent nationwide recall for bread sold in US that may contain shards of GLASS that could slice throats
An urgent recall has gone out for bread sold throughout the US that may have shards of glass. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the recall after being alerted by Upper Crust Bakery that glass fragments had been found on the top of their bread and rolls. The products were shipped to stores in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Overall, 818 cases of Upper Crust Bakery bread is suspected of containing glass pieces, including 699 cases of the company's 18-ounce Multigrain Sourdough packages. Another 89 cases of four-ounce Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and 30 cases of 20-ounce Whole Grain Multigrain bread were also recalled. For the Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and the Multigrain Sourdough, customers should be looking for packages listed as being from Lot #90. For the Whole Grain Multigrain, the affected bread comes from Lot #92. Shoppers should also look for the packaging code 'CP45' on Upper Crust's Ancient Grains Hoagie Rolls and 'CP12' on both the Multigrain Sourdough and Whole Grain Multigrain bread. The FDA noted that this incident has been elevated to a Class II recall in their announcement, meaning the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, but is unlikely to lead to long-term serious injuries. However, accidentally eating glass can still lead to various injuries, including cuts in the mouth, throat, or stomach, choking, and possible infections. reached out to the bakery who confirmed the potentially dangerous circumstances surrounding the ongoing recall. As for what consumers need to look out for on store shelves, the FDA revealed that these frozen products were all shipped out in corrugated paper cartons - typical for frozen baked goods to maintain the product's integrity in cold storage and prevent damage. According to the FDA, Maryland-based Upper Crust Bakery LP first notified the health agency on April 12. The FDA officially categorized the alert as a Class II recall on Friday, warning that the imbedded glass could cause injuries to consumers. Only a Class I recall is more serious, which means a product may lead to serious health problems or death - but that does not appear to be the case here. The FDA issuing a bread recall involving glass is a rare event. In fact, there is only one other recorded recall for a problem like this in the last three years. In 2022, Fetting's Frozen Foods LLC issued a recall on their Abby's Bakery Homestyle White Bread Dough over a potential glass contamination. In both incidents, there have been no reports of any injuries due to glass shards lodged in the bread. However, anyone who have purchased the Upper Crust bread or rolls will still need to watch carefully. In the worst case scenarios, swallowing glass fragments can cause tears or perforations in the gastrointestinal lining. There is a risk of bacterial contamination leading to infections. For example, bacteria from the gut could enter the abdominal cavity, causing serious conditions like sepsis. A study published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy noted that sharp objects like glass have up to a 15 percent higher chance of causing a puncture in the stomach or gut than a blunt object. While having the lot numbers are key, consumers who have these products should also inspect the bread for visible glass fragments, as small fragments may not be easily detectable.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- The Independent
Family in battle over £650,000 estate after ‘eccentic recluse' gifted fortune to waitress two years before death
The family of an eccentric "recluse" who signed over his £650,000 home to a waitress he met at his local cafe are suing in a court fight to get it back. History buff and military memorabilia collector Richard Joy died in May 2018, having lived his entire life in the family home in Hillside Gardens, Harrow, where he amassed a 'mountain of books' and left his parents' old room untouched. The 82-year-old - described by his family as a "recluse" - never married or had children and spent most of his time at the local library or working on his collection of rare coins, medals and millitaria. But less than two years before his death, he gifted his home to Mariia Romanyshyn, 38, a Ukrainian waitress he met while she worked in his local café in 2011. Mr Joy, who visited the Upper Crust cafe (as seen below) in Harrow three times a week, formed a close bond with Mrs Romanyshyn, she says, with the pensioner eventually inviting her, her husband and their daughters to live with him in his house as his "adopted family". It was against this background that he told her he had decided to gift her the house in 2016, she claims, having "thrust" the deeds of the property into her hands and said: "The house is yours. I want you to keep the house." But Mrs Romanyshyn is now being sued by Mr Joy's cousin and executor of his estate Martin Larney, who is fighting to get the house back for the family. He claims the gift of the property in 2016 was invalid as Mr Joy was too mentally frail to fully understand what he was doing at the time. Mrs Romanyshyn is fighting the court claim, insisting that her friend knew what he was doing. The pensioner had been sharp enough to follow the complex storylines of Benedict Cumberbatch's 'Sherlock' series, she says, and also to play chess with her daughter, to whom he was a "grandfather figure." Sitting at Central London County Court, Judge Simon Monty KC heard that Mr Joy had never had a family of his own and lived his entire life in his parents' Hillside Gardens home. Under a will made in 2011, most of his fortune, including the house, was to be split between his second cousin Mr Larney and his mother Doreen Larney, and a friend who is not involved in the case. But after his death, it emerged that in 2016 he had signed a document gifting the property to Mrs Romanyshyn, having met her at the cafe where she worked part-time in 2011. Challenging the gift in court last week, Mr Larney's barrister Andrew Nicklin claimed that Mr Joy did not have capacity to make such a big decision at that stage of life. The barrister said Mr Joy was "vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment" and "dependant" on Mrs Romanyshyn, who had moved into his home with her family after they became friends at the café. Giving evidence, Mrs Romanyshyn, now a trainee beautician, explained how she got to know Mr Joy in 2011 while serving him in the café, where she knew him as a "respectable and reputable customer." After a spell in hospital, she had offered to help him with shopping or casual chores, but began helping him out on a more regular basis as the years went by. Mr Joy had 'repeatedly encouraged' her and her family to set up house with him, she said, telling her: 'my wish is for this to be your family home'. She told the court she ended up moving in with her family despite her misgivings about such a big step, which forced her to abandon previous plans to move out of London and buy a home. 'A friendship developed over some time which evolved into a familial relationship and after some years - at the deceased's request and insistence - in April 2017 she moved into the property together with (her husband) Vasyl and daughter," said her barrister Lynne Counsell. 'They and their children became the adopted family of the deceased and they also assisted him and cared for him, but neither of them were ever paid carers and at no time demanded or received any money for their care and assistance.' Mrs Romanyshyn treated the pensioner 'as her uncle,' while her daughter viewed him 'as a grandfather figure' - and he was still mentally sharp enough to make major decisions, she continued. 'There is nothing in the GP records that show he was suffering from dementia, or undergoing any investigation of dementia or being prescribed any drugs for that condition,' said Ms Counsell, while he was also well able to 'successfully navigate trips away from home and return safely'. 'The deceased played chess with Mrs Romanyshyn's oldest daughter before and after the deed of he also watched and was able to follow episodes of 'Sherlock' on television.' Mrs Romanyshyn told the judge that in spring 2016, Mr Joy had "thrust" the deeds of the property into her hands and said: "The house is yours. I want you to keep the house." She said Mr Joy simply told her, 'I have a present for you,' before offering her the deeds, to which she had replied: 'don't worry, I will look after it very well for you'. 'He received and felt the care, love and affection from me and my family," she said. "An extremely high degree of trust was there between us." She said that as early in their friendship as November 2011, Mr Joy had wanted to give her a diamond ring in his will, telling the judge: 'He said to me 'Mariia can I have your name and address?' - which was surprising, but he said that he wanted to put something for me in his will but didn't mention what it was." But Mr Larney's barrister suggested that in 2016 Mr Joy was in no position to sign off complex legal documents, arguing: 'The deceased was vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment and, on the face of the medical evidence produced, lacking capacity." Although accepting that the relationship between Mr Joy and Mrs Romanyshyn's family may have involved 'care and affection,' he said she held 'a position of ascendancy', which demanded the utmost care be taken to ensure he knew what he was doing when deciding legal issues. By 2016, Mrs Romanyshyn's family were occupying 'the majority of the home,' while Mr Joy was living in one room of the bungalow, alleged Mr Nicklin, and by June that year she had become the pensioner's attorney, "in control of his bank account and finances." 'The deceased was dependant on Mrs Romanyshyn in respect of daily life, shopping, cooking, medicine and medical appointments," he said. Giving evidence, Mr Joy's 87-year-old cousin Doreen Larney - who stands to inherit a share of the house if the gift is overturned - described her first cousin as a 'a bit of a recluse' who had a tendency to burn through his money. She said his bank manager father had tried to leave him money in trust because he 'got through it so fast'. 'He just wasn't good with money, it had no value for him,' she told Judge Monty, adding: 'he would spend £6,000 on a gold coin and then he wouldn't have any money left.' She said she and her husband had done their utmost to keep in touch with him, but that contact ceased after 2012 when they found they could no longer get through on the phone. At one point they had visited him regularly, but found it hard making the trips due to advancing age and ill health, and in 2012 they stopped receiving replies to their regular letters. 'After 2012, we didn't really have any contact with him,' she told the court. Mr Larney is fighting to overturn the 2016 gift of the house (shown below), so that it can be included in his estate and divided up under the terms of his 2011 will, which largely split his estate three ways between the Larneys and an old friend of Mr Joy's, who is not involved in the case. The court heard that under the will his collection of millitaria was donated to the Imperial War Museum, whilst part of his coin collection was sold to pay for his funeral expenses. Denying he lacked capacity, Ms Counsell told the court 'Mr Joy was going to the pub, bookies, fish and chip shops and also used the bus by himself in 2018. "The deceased remained independent. 'In the type of a loving familial relationship, it is submitted that the law must be very slow to interpret that relationship into one that harbours the ability to impose an actionable influence. "Even seven years after the deceased passed away, Mrs Romanyshyn still organises a remembrance service at the local church for the deceased every Christmas. She also visits the deceased's grave, sometimes with her mother, and puts flowers on the grave. "Mr Larney does none of these things," she concluded. The judge is expected to deliver his ruling on the case at a later date.
