Alistair Darby, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has told M&C Report that the company is ready to put its shoulder behind its steakhouse concept Miller & Carter as it looks to grow the brand’s pipeline.
Darby also said that it was unlikely that the group would open more sites under its Toby Carvery Express brand, but that the company was taking some “essential learnings” about the fast-casual sector from the format.
He said that the group was “very pleased” with initial performance of the group’s first roadside Harvester site at Moto’s Donington Park Services on the M1.
The expansion of Miller & Carter, which is on track to open its 30th site later this year in Bath, will be part of the company’s capital expenditure on its formats in the special occasion dining segment that the group values at £22bn.
He said: “We get a great ROI from Miller & Carter and it sits right in the middle of the special dining occasion category. When people look for value, price is the key motivator, but when they want premium, like Miller & Carter, price is just part of the equation, the operator has to earn that price point through the offer, environment and service. We are ready to put our shoulder behind Miller & Carter in terms of expansion capital.”
M&B has previously said it would look to grow Miller & Carter to a 50-strong estate.
It will open the 29th site under the format on the site of the former Nolita restaurant in Brookman’s Park, Hertfordshire, in September
The concept specialises in premium steaks and grilled meats.
It is also thought that the brand has taken a site at the former Lloyds development in the city’s Kings Street, which is due to be completed by the end of this year. M&B has been expanding the Miller & Carter concept into new locations over the last couple of years, including retail parks, shopping centres and town centres
Darby said that both M&B and Moto were happy with the start made by the Harvester on the M1 and would assess its full performance near the end of the year before deciding on whether to grow the partnership further.
He said that althought both Toby Carvery Express sites in Southampton and Cardiff were good businesses, he didn’t think more units would be brought online under the brand in the foreseeable future.
