Henry J Beans owner the Food & Drink Group has appointed Raymond McClymont to the board as chief operating officer.

McClymont, an experienced pub industry operator, joined the company three months ago from the Laurel Pub Company.

At Laurel he was director of operations and catering for their quality food division, which includes brands the Slug & Lettuce and Ha!Ha! Bar & Canteen.

Food & Drink chief executive James Kowszun said: “Raymond is a die-in-the-wool operator and brings the rigour we need as we grow the group from a small concern to something much larger.”

Kowszun credited “doing the basics well” as the main reason like-for-like sales in the first 48 weeks of the year were up 3% on 2005, with the effect of the football World Cup largely negligible. 

The company said revenue growth combined with improved cost control meant it now expected to significantly exceeded expectations in the current financial year.

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By Chris Druce

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