Northern Ireland’s Bob & Berts recognised for exceptional performance
Bob & Berts coffee shops have been recognised for their exceptional performance in 2022 as part of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s (BVCA) ‘Vision 2023.’
Since opening its first shop in Portstewart in 2013, the focus has been to identify new locations where there’s a big focus on local communities, rather than busy city centres. The company now grown over the last 10 years to 27 stores across Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.
Vision 2023, produced in collaboration with Grant Thornton, shines a light on the best management teams backed by the BVCA’s private equity and venture capital members.
Judging criteria includes growth, competitiveness, innovation and ESG factors, with judges considering the firms’ focus on the future as well as past performance. Bob & Berts directors, David Ferguson and Colin McClean received a trophy at a ceremonial dinner held at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, last night.
Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the BVCA, said:
“Bob & Berts is a real Northern Irish success story. In a crowded and challenging market that the business continues to demonstrate impressive growth whilst remaining true to the values of supporting community, family and its staff. It is a leading example of how a business can grow with the funding, business expertise and hands-on management that private capital can provide.”
Grant Thornton, said:
“The Vision awards programme shines a light on companies, like Bob & Berts, who has excelled over the past year with the support of private capital. They have shown sustainable expansion which in turn has created more jobs whilst staying true to its origins as a community based coffee shop.”
The recognised firm
Bob & Berts backed by BGF
Bob & Berts is a chain of coffee shops that was established in 2013 by Colin McClean and David Ferguson with the opening of their first store in Portstewart. The company differentiates itself from a crowded market through it made to order fresh food offering, and by the rustic and family friendly atmosphere in its stores.
Between 2013-2017 the company grew to have 14 cafes in Northern Ireland. This organic growth was self-funded through re-investment of cash generated from one store onto the next. The PE investment from BGF in 2017 has enabled the company to expand into Scotland and England to reach 27 stores. It has also enabled a management team to be built around the founders and professionalisation of the company behind the scenes.
The Company carefully selects its’ locations with a focus to engage with and be at the heart of local communities.
You can read more about Bob & Berts in the judging booklet here, or more about Vision 2023 on its webpage, here.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Karen Keany, BVCA: [email protected]
Notes to editors
About the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
The BVCA, as the representative body for private equity and venture capital, connects institutional investors, fund managers, companies, advisers and service providers together, with our membership currently comprising more than 700 businesses from across the private capital ecosystem. This includes more than 325 PE and VC firms, 100 institutional investors and 220 professional services firms.
Private capital drives growth – providing the funding, expertise and long-term view that enables companies to innovate and flourish. Our mission is to advocate the transformative nature of the private equity and venture capital community.
About Grant Thornton UK LLP
Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. We are an adviser that delivers technical expertise and a personal, proactive and agile service that goes beyond.
The UK member firm is part of a global network that employs 58,000 people in 135 countries. We combine global scale with local insight and understanding to build relationships and deliver the services you need to realise your ambitions.
The UK Grant Thornton member firm is led by over 200 partners and employs over 5000 of the profession’s brightest minds. We are a business adviser that celebrates fresh thinking and diverse perspectives to bring you proactive insights and a service you can trust.
Find out more at www.grantthornton.co.uk.
