Coffee Republic, the Arab Investments-backed chain, has appointed Patrick Mooney as its new UK & International head of operations.
Mooney joins the c.135-strong chain from Sainsbury’s where he was project operations manager, which included overseeing the supermarket’s launch of its Fresh Kitchen food-on-the-move concept. Previous to this he spent two years as an area manager at Eat and over four years at Pret A Manger.
He replaces Vincent Healy, who joined the company at the start of 2011. Healy has left the group to become a retail consultant at Retail Inc.
The group, which operates close to 28 company-owned bars and over 80 concessions in the UK, is reportedly in talks with potential local franchise partners as it looks to launch in India, with plans to eventually open 50-80 stores in the country.
The high street chain was bought out of administration by Arab Investments in July 2009.
It also currently operates sites in Jersey, Jordan, Kuwait, Romania and Saudi Arabia.
