Various Eateries is looking to expand its geographical footprint outside the south of England, and build on the momentum of its first site in the South West.
The Hugh Osmond-backed business, which operates Coppa Club and Tavolino, is just about to open its second site in that region – in Bath, and is also considering venues in Cardiff, York, Manchester and Birmingham, executive chairman Andy Bassadone, told MCA.
But it’s certainly not taking its eye off the south as well, with good size towns like Guildford, Farnham, Chichester and Winchester, all suited to a Coppa Club, he said, with its current pocket of sites acting as a good brand building exercise.
Yishay Malkov, CEO, Various Eateries told MCA the business has money and the bank, and the technical capability and knowhow to do anything up to 30 sites a year, but it’s all about finding the right opportunities – more of which may come up post the end of the rent moratorium he said – although there is no guarantee.
“With good premium sites like Cobham, Haslemere or Bath (the latter two are due to open later this spring) – if they are done right, it is worth two or three normal openings,” Malkov added, with Various Eateries looking at a minimum of five openings this year.
Reporting its full year results for the year to 3 October 2021, earlier this week, the 13-strong group said it achieved “very strong” trading post-reopening in May last year, with total group revenue up 36% to £22.3m, for the 53-weeks to 3 October 2021, compared to 2020.
Like-for-like sales at Coppa Club were up 21% from 17 May 2021 to the period end, compared to 2019 sales, with several sites achieving multiple record weekly and monthly sales.
