V8 Gourmet Group, the operator of the Tiffinbites and Bombay Bicycle brands, which was acquired by new group Calleon Ltd last week, has confirmed the departure of managing director Arjun Varma and Anand Varma, head of its wholesale division food and business development.
The brothers are believed to be in negotiations to acquire the Silk events business and the high-end Vama restaurant they currently operate under the V8 Gourmet umbrella from the new owners.
Arjun Varma took over the running of V8 at the start of 2009, after the then Gourmet Restaurants underwent a pre-pack administration, which saw Jamal Hirani, the group's founder and chief executive leave the company.
Gourmet Restaurants had acquired the Vama Group fine dining business, which comprised a restaurant, an events catering business plus an airline food supplier, from the Varma’s at the same time as it purchased BBC in July 2008.
M&C Report understands that new owners Calleon, which is headed by Saeeda Jaffery, is to focus on growing the Bombay Bicycle chain.
The group, which has taken on V8 Gourmet’s debt, has been described as having “substantial depth” to its resources.
