填空题 Hard times for caf6 chain
It has been a terrible year for cafe operator called Dawkin. Less than 12
months ago it took over the Cafeza chain, with its 16 sites, but it is rumoured
41. that half of those are yet to be closed in the next few months, because of falling
42. turnover. What's more, the company is still recovering from the sudden
43. resignation of its Managing Director in April. While Dawkin operates 84 cafes,
44. and had plans to reach up 150 by the end of next year. This is looking less and
45. less achievable, given that the company's poor financial position and limits on
46. its short-term debt facilities. Worst of all news, perhaps, Dawkin has just
47. announced that its rival Highway has built it up a shareholding of just over 5%,
48. redoubling speculation that Dawkin's days as an independent operator are being
49. numbered. Roughly equal in size, the two have long been competing for the
50. number five slot in the overcrowded caf6 market. There are now rumours of a
51. deal between the two, which would provide them complementary coverage,
52. Dawkin being strong in London and other big cities, and unlike Highway concentrating its efforts outside the major population centres.