All interviews – Page 53
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InterviewsHero Award: ‘Rob Mitchell is the barometer of our business’
As part of the new Hero Award category at the Retailers’ Retailer Awards, MCA is profiling five senior managers who have gone above and beyond in steering their business through the crisis. In today’s profile, Drake & Morgan CEO Jillian Maclean discusses her nomination, executive chef Rob Mitchell, and why he has been so integral in preserving the business through lockdown and planning for the post-pandemic world.
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InterviewsHow Deliveroo pioneered delivery-only kitchens at Editions
Nigel Rivers, general manager of global site operations at Deliveroo Editions, shares the latest tech developments at the platform.
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InterviewsHero Award: ‘I had an enormous synergy target going into lockdown’
Effectively managing relationships with a huge and diverse supply chain throughout a merger which saw Stonegate become the UK’s largest pub company would be no small task at the best of times. Factor in that Stonegate’s acquisition of Ei group happened around two weeks before the first lockdown in March last year and you can at least imagine the scale of the challenges that faced Suzanne Baker, commercial and property director at Stonegate.
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InterviewsPret’s journey from bricks and mortar brand to multi-channel retailer
Pret chief information and transformation officer Sarah Venning discusses the brand’s approach to delivery and click and collect – and how insights from these channels led to the creation of the innovative coffee subscription.
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InterviewsHero Award: ‘There’s a level of compassion sometimes missing in finance’
As part of the new Hero Award at the Retailers’ Retailer, MCA is profiling five senior managers who have gone above and beyond in steering their business through the crisis.
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InterviewsMartin Williams: ‘Sector must ramp up the volume on safety’
Reassuring the public on the safety of hospitality spaces will be critical upon reopening, and pubs, bars and restaurants must look to achieve a “covid-super-secure” operation, Rare Restaurants CEO Martin Williams has said.
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InterviewsCharlie Gilkes: ‘The national health lobby is a concern’
Wet-led operators need guarantees of an upcoming restriction-free reopening, and reassurance that certain measures pushed forward by the health lobby will not remain long term, MCA’s The Conversation has heard.
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InterviewsKate Nicholls: ‘Brexit is a hidden problem’
The labour and supply shortages set to come about because of Brexit are currently a “hidden problem,” but will inevitably impact hospitality businesses in months to come, UK Hospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has warned.
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InterviewsSimon Potts: ‘There are positives to a transition period’
Alchemist CEO Simon Potts has said he would be open to a 12-week transition towards reopening, and that a period of restrictions could have its positives for operators.
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InterviewsTomahawk’s Howard Eggleston: ‘We’ll continue to push on with expansion’
Steakhouse group Tomahawk has said it will continue to push on with its expansion plans in spite of the ongoing pandemic and that it has a couple more sites in the pipeline for summer.
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InterviewsJohn Eckbert: ‘Landlords can’t be immune from this pandemic’
Five Guys CEO John Eckbert has responded to reports that central London landlord Criterion Capital has filed a £1.5m county court claim against the business.
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InterviewsAndy Wood: ‘Pubs have a symbolic role to play’
For Adnams CEO Andy Wood, a clear reopening roadmap would grant the sector far more than just an ability to plan.
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InterviewsBrian Trollip: ‘Delivery was more than a lifeline’
The value of Dishoom’s new delivery offer has stretched beyond its contribution to sales, managing director Brian Trollip has said.
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InterviewsKate Nicholls: ‘All eyes are on Israel’
The Government is adopting a ‘watch and wait’ approach to its business exit strategy, and any clarity on reopening is unlikely until the end of this month, MCA’s The Conversation has heard.
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InterviewsScott Collins: ‘We are chomping at the bit to reopen’
Meatliquour has used lockdown to streamline its operations and make its offer stronger than ever before, according to managing director Scott Collins.
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InterviewsDavid Page: ‘It’s a frustrating experience, not being in charge’
Franco Manca chairman David Page has spoken of the frustration, but inevitability, of working with delivery partners during the pandemic.
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InterviewsCharlie Gilkes: ‘We’ll take tiers over lockdown’
Whatever Government has in store for the sector beyond March, Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes’ is hoping for anything but continued closure. Behind some of London’s best-known experiential late-night venues, Gilkes is of the opinion that Inception’s sites are “better off open than closed,” and though he’d rather avoid a return to regional tiering, he’d “rather that than complete lockdown.”
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InterviewsJames Horler: ‘Sector must up its game to meet new consumer standards’
The coronavirus crisis will be “habit changing” for the consumer, and restaurants, pubs and bars will have to increase standards to meet the shift in demand, Ego CEO James Horler has said.
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InterviewsSteve Holmes: ‘We have scenarios coming out of our ears’
The inability to effectively plan for the long-term is an issue that has blighted restaurant operators during the pandemic, but an Easter reopening makes the most sense to work to, says Steve Holmes, CEO at Azzurri Group.
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InterviewsNick Collins: ‘Opportunities won’t sway our strategy’
The inevitable increase in high-footfall site opportunities following the pandemic will not change Loungers’ established property strategy, CEO Nick Collins has said.