Last week KFC ran out of chicken. Everyone knows that, right? What you might not know is who swooped in to save the day: logistics start-up Stowga.
The company often cited as “the Airbnb for warehouses” (run by EG Rising Star Charlie Pool) was contacted late at night by a representative from the fried-chicken chain in something of a flap. Could Stowga find a number of warehouses up and down the country “at short notice” was the question. How short? “Three days ago,” came the reply.
Putting all its eggs in Stowga’s basket, KFC uploaded its logistics requirements into the start-up’s platform, which immediately located hundreds of potential sites across the UK and notified the managers of those warehouses. Within minutes bids came in for the business and within hours KFC had viable options for a temporary network. The first location, near Bristol, will become operational this week. KFC lovers, sleep easy. Stowga is on the case.
Main image: HAP/Quirky China News/Rex/Shutterstock
Chicken out in Cheam
More woes for KFC – the fast-food outlet has been rejected by the good people of Cheam. Well, by their elected representatives at least. Despite a firm recommendation from Sutton Council’s planning officers, councillors shot down the proposal for what would have been Cheam’s first fried-chicken purveyor, nine votes to nil. That followed a bit of theatrics from Tory councillor Tony Shields, who brought takeaway wrappings with him to throw on the floor, powerfully representing the dark future that could been in store for the quaint Surrey suburb. But the big question is: where did he find a branch open to get his hands on some?
You sexy thing
Leading commercial property agent exposing himself in public shock! No, this is not some tabloid-style exposé. Instead, Richard Weller, director at Glinsman Weller, will be treading the boards later this month in stage musical The Full Monty. “Hot stuff” Weller will be leaving his hat on at Haslemere Hall, Surrey, on 20‑24 March (tickets available now). Weller describes himself as a “long-serving West End office agent”. Clearly his West End dreams don’t end there. His website bio says he is “a frustrated actor, ardent KISS follower and Crystal Palace fan”. Things are clearly looking up on the thespian front, and Google tells us that the face-painted rockers are touring Spain this summer. So all he needs is the Eagles to soar clear of relegation. At least Palace always have an eye-catching strip – and soon that will be true of Weller…
Freehold: the movie
There’s no such thing as a day off for Diary. So when a weekend browse of the TV planner throws up a dark comedy horror movie named Freehold, we have to drop everything and watch – purely for research purposes, of course. A cautionary tale for any unscrupulous agents out there, the 2017 film (which somehow seems to have escaped the attention of cinemas) features one such amoral figure – all immaculately groomed and resplendent in a truly spectacular red and black suit – who has no idea that one of the victims he has wronged has secretly moved into his flat. There, the creepily skeletal-looking interloper seeks revenge by stealing tiny amounts of cereal, using his host’s toothbrush and washing his unmentionables with the face flannel. And that’s just the first few minutes. The poster tagline is: “There’s no place like YOUR home.” And now Diary is crossing its fingers for a full “housing crisis” trilogy. Leasehold: Rise of the Ground Rents, anyone? And culminating, perhaps, in light of the recent consultation on the issue, with Commonhold: A New Hope?
Conservation conversation
The Newington & Borough Society no doubt had the best intentions when it proudly announced to the world, via the medium of Twitter, “we have made our first (highly controversial) application to @historicengland for listing the Elephant & Castle shopping centre”. Well, at least it acknowledged it would be controversial. But, perhaps caught off-guard by the level of outpouring of social media scorn for its attempt to protect such an oft-derided local landmark, the society swiftly deleted its tweet. Praise, then, to the conservation efforts of one Matt Kilcoyne (@MRJKilcoyne), head of communications at neoliberal think tank the Adam Smith Institute, for screenshotting the tweet for posterity – and yet more derision.
And finally…
…a gratuitous hedgehog story. Troubling word reaches Diary that there are only 50 hedgehogs left in London. They all live in Regent’s Park and they are looked after by a chap called Mark. We learned this at a meeting about the urban fabric that makes London so great, then scratched our heads for hours to work out how to make this seem more commercial real estate related. We’ve got nothing. But that’s no reason to deny you what is simultaneously one of the very best and absolute worst facts we have heard this year. Or indeed, a cute picture of a hedgehog.
