Ex Leon managers start hospitality consultancy

Two former senior managers of the fast food chain Leon have set up a new consultancy called Public House, for the restaurant, bar, pub and hotel sector.

Benny Peverelli, former executive chef of Leon restaurants and Richard Holmes, former head of operations will focus on helping businesses improve the customer experience and re-introduce kitchen skills to drive down kitchen costs.

Speaking about their approach, Holmes said: "Many businesses in this sector believe that the way to drive growth is through marketing. But we know from past experience, that the way to break sales records is by focussing on the core offering and customer experience. By getting everything perfect - from the volume of the music to the serving temperature of the food - everything else follows. It's simply a case of putting credibility before visibility".

Peverelli added: "In these harsh economic times, when food prices have risen by as much as 20% in the last few months, it's also important to focus on the bottom line and squeeze margins wherever possible. For example, another common error is the heavy reliance on expensive pre-prepared food. The re-introduction of kitchen skills, like butchery, can not only make an enormous difference to operational margins but also improve the quality of a kitchen's offering for customers".

Deliverance, the London-based high-end food delivery service and Akkeron Hotels have already engaged Public House's services.

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By Neil Gerrard

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