Stein's health and safety programme
Seafood chef Rick Stein has launched an interactive training programme to improve health and safety practices in the catering industry, called Recipe for Health & Safety.
Developed by Supernova and Keep-up-to-date Productions, in association with Stein's Seafood Restaurant, the programme will provide a health and safety induction module for new employees.
The broadband programme will provide basic information, encourage individual responsibility and teach and test understanding of procedures and principles.
The programme can be viewed at www. broadbandshow.org. To purchase a copy, contact 01273 323311 or visit www.supernovalearning.com.
City Centre secures Ask
City Centre, operator of the Est Est Est, Garfunkel's and Frankie & Benny's chains, has agreed to buy Ask Central for about £168m. The deal will make the new restaurant group more than 400-strong, covering the high street, leisure park and concessions markets.
The offer comprises 66p a share in cash and 1.54 shares for each Ask Central share. This means a premium of about 24% of the value of Ask Central before reports of the merger emerged.
Adam Kaye is expected to be executive director in the enlarged group, while Samuel Kaye will remain in a senior management role.
Coffee Republic fails to improve
Coffee Republic's move to rid itself of low-spend, sofa-loving customers has so far failed to raise the company's spirits. Results for the six months to 28 September 2003 revealed a 26% drop in sales to £11.4m (2002: £15.4m) following the closure of 10 bars. Remaining outlets also suffered a 0.9% drop in like-for-like sales.
The group has slimmed down to 67 bars and plans to reduce further to 50. It's also trialling two new deli outlets and expects to start conversion of other stores by spring this year.
Pre-tax losses were narrowed from £3.9m to £990,000.