EY appoints Robert Pyle as restaurant sector leader
EY has appointed Robert Pyle as its new restaurant sector leader in the UK and Ireland. A partner in EY-Parthenon’s strategy team, he brings more than two decades of consumer, leisure and retail advisory experience to the role.
“The UK restaurant sector remains one of the country’s most dynamic and economically important industries,” Pyle said of the challenges ahead. “I’m excited to work with EY colleagues across the business to support operators, suppliers and investors as they adapt to changing consumer expectations, embrace technology and build more connected, commercially robust and future ready businesses.”
Pyle joined EY in 2007. He has since worked with management teams on strategy, growth and M&A, helping them respond to changing consumer behaviour, competitive dynamics and technological disruption. His experience spans the full spectrum of foodservice; from fine dining and casual dining to quick service restaurants (QSR), coffee shops and major industry suppliers.
In his new role, Pyle will coordinate capabilities from across the firm, working closely with sector and functional leaders including Trevellyan Collier (consulting), Andrew Taylor (tax) and Chris Solomides (assurance) to bring integrated support to clients across a breadth of key topics for the sector.
Speaking on the news, Michael Thompson, EY’s UK and Ireland managing partner for consumer and health industries, said, “I am delighted that Robert is taking on this leadership role. The restaurant and wider foodservice sector is experiencing significant structural change, but there are also opportunities for those ready to innovate. The addition of Robert’s leadership and deep sector knowledge, transaction experience and ability to help clients navigate disruptive market forces will be hugely valuable as operators and investors plan for their next phase of growth.”
According to the release from EY, the UK restaurant industry “continues to evolve at pace”, suggesting that “demand for dining out remains resilient” – though “shifting consumer expectations, and the need for innovation in digital ordering, pricing and operational efficiency” are challenges the sector needs to face. EY’s restaurant sector will help them to do so – but it may also have to contend with a number of less sunny propositions.
As reported by the Financial Times, the food and drink sector in the UK is struggling to recover from a post-lockdown hangover, as declining consumer spending power and rising costs have left many on the brink. Citing data tracker NIQ and accounting firm RSM UK, the paper found that like-for-like sales fell in all but two months of 2025. Meanwhile the cost of eating at a restaurant or café was more than a third higher in December than in the same month in 2019, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. Amid this, the sector has seen “last resort” deals including a second main course for just £1 at PizzaExpress and a £5 burger at Frankie & Benny’s, to fill seats once again.
