The pub and restaurant group founded by Raymond Blanc has been acquired in a deal understood to be worth around £40m.
Brasserie Bar Co, which owns the Brasserie Blanc and White Brasserie Co brands, has been acquired by Alchemy Partners
This acquisition follows a period of successful ownership by Soho Square Capital, during which time the Group has grown into a market-leading business of 1300 colleagues serving on average 34,000 customers a week across 14 brasseries and 18 pubs.
The transaction will underpin Brasserie Bar Co’s plan to accelerate growth towards a portfolio of 70 premium pubs over the next five years, primarily through the expansion of the White Brasserie pub business.
White Brasserie pubs offer a brasserie-quality menu within distinctive pub settings. This format has proven extremely popular with guests, and the group has been shown to significantly improve footfall and sales when taking over new sites.
Alongside the highest standards of food and service, the success of its pubs is underpinned by the clear belief that they should retain their special status at the heart of their local communities.
As part of this acquisition, Mark Derry will remain as Executive Chairman of the Group and Richard Ferrier as Managing Director. Given Brasserie Bar Co’s expansion strategy and the ambition of Alchemy Partners, the group will over time create a significant number of new roles and opportunities for professionals seeking to develop their skills and further their careers in hospitality.
Mark Derry, Executive Chairman of Brasserie Bar Co, said, 'This is a great deal for Brasserie Bar Co, which opens up the path for us to operate more pubs and provide more opportunities for our colleagues. This will enable us to build on our achievements to date and drive further growth across the Group.
'I would like to thank Soho Square Capital for their support and we look forward to working with Alchemy, who share our vision for accelerating the roll out our successful and differentiated pub offer.
“I would like to thank the whole team – led by Richard Ferrier, Chris Guy and Helen Melvin – for getting us to this point. Under their leadership, we have in place a winning combination of serving brasserie-quality food within historic and atmospheric pubs.
'It is an offer that customers love, and I am confident that the continued strength of our teams, our steadfast focus on food, and our outstanding locations, will drive future success and growth.
Thomas Boszko, Partner at Alchemy Partners, said, 'Brasserie Bar co do food-led pubs exceptionally well – a combination of their differentiated product and a very experienced team who know exactly what they’re doing.
'This investment is all about backing that team with the capital they need to expand the estate, both in leasehold but also freehold. We are confident in the future of the industry and believe there couldn’t be a better time to do this.
Clearwater International advised Brasserie Bar Co.The team comprised partner and international head of consumer Richard O’Donnell, partner Rob Britton and associate Emily Adlard.
O’Donnell commented, “Since its inception Brasserie has built a strong reputation and is well-known by its customers for its high quality food and drink and excellent hospitality from its team.
'The transaction provides the exceptional management team of Brasserie Bar Co with the backing to substantially accelerate their growth plans. We’d like to wish Mark, Richard and team all the best.”