Bob & Berts coffee shop set to expand to Scotland and create 400 jobs

by XPRESS, 22 August 2017

Coffee shop chain Bob & Berts is planning to create up to 400 new jobs across Scotland as part of a wider expansion drive after securing £2 million in new investment backed by Business Growth Fund.

Bob & Berts, which currently has 16 outlets in Northern Ireland, plans to open another 30 shops over the next four years, creating up to 600 full and part-time jobs in the process.

Twenty of the new outlets are planned for Scotland, accounting 400 of the planned job growth, with the first stores expected to open within the Central Belt in the coming months, though exact locations have yet to be finalised.

The new investment will see former Costa Coffee and Casual Dining Group chief financial officer Mohan Mansigan join the Bob & Berts board as non-executive chairman.

Gemma Hamilton, an investor at Business Growth Fund (BGF), will also join the Bob & Berts board.

The company said its expansion strategy will see it “targeting market towns with strong local communities across Scotland, replicating Bob & Berts success to date”.

Colin McClean, co-owner of Bob & Berts, said: “The business is growing quickly and we are looking forward to taking the next step.

“We have successfully opened ten stores in the past two years and are looking to open a further 30 stores over the next four years.

“Working with BGF will enable us to accelerate our growth plans and we are now actively looking at sites in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

“Fundamental to our growth plans will be maintaining the culture and the ethos that has made Bob & Berts a hit with our customers.”

Patrick Graham, head of BGF’s Central Scotland and Northern Ireland team, said: “We are excited to begin working with Colin and David who, in a short period, have successfully developed a strong brand with significant growth potential.

“This investment, along with the introduction of Mohan, who brings a wealth of experience to the company, will help unlock their desire and drive to expand significantly in the coming years and we look forward to partnering with the business for this journey.”

BGF is a £2.5 billion UK government-backed initiative set up in 2011 to help small and mid-sized fast growing firms.

In return for an initial investment of typically between £2 million and £10 million, BGF takes a minority equity stake in the business.

The coffee chain market is currently booming in Scotland following the opening of the first European outlet in Glasgow of Canadian outfit Tim Hortons.