Bear Coffee has appointed Kirsty Rose as operations director.
The Midlands-based coffee shop chain and lifestyle brand, founded in 2016, secured funding from Clark Group Investments last year to grow its estate as well as its ecommerce platform.
Rose joins from Mitchells & Butlers-owned steakhouse chain Miller & Carter, where she spent two years, most recently as holding operations director.
Prior to that, she worked as business development manager for Greene King.
Commenting on LinkedIn, Bear founder Craig Bunting said: “In 2016, Michael and I took a huge leap of faith in Uttoxeter, driven by a simple belief: good coffee, good people, good times. Our adventure began on an ALDI coffee machine, in a shed, with a vision for what BEAR could become.
“Fast forward eight years, and here we are, a team of over 150, spanning seven sites across four counties.
“From the very beginning, when queues formed down Uttoxeter High Street for something different, to now, our journey has been about sharing our passion for coffee and creating a space where people can connect. This growth and sense of community have been at the heart of everything we do. Yet, as we look to the future, Michael and I understand that our dream for BEAR is ambitious. To achieve it, we knew we needed someone special to join us, someone who not only shares our vision but has the experience to help us navigate the years ahead.
“It is with immense excitement that we introduce Kirsty Rose as our Operations Director. Kirsty brings with her a wealth of experience that we know will be invaluable to BEAR. Her passion for our vision and commitment to excellence is what makes her the perfect fit for our team.
“With her at the helm of our operations, we’re more excited than ever for what the future holds, knowing that our teams have the invaluable support we owe to them.”
