Overall ranking: 30 (ranked 29 in 2010)
Pub ranking: 2 (ranked 2 in 2010)
Rooney Anand: Snapshot
Rooney Anand is chief executive of brewer and pub operator Greene King, which has brewed in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, since 1799.
Greene King has about 2,500 pubs covering both managed and tenanted properties, including the Belhaven pubs and brewing business in Scotland and the Loch Fyne seafood restaurant chain.
For the half year to 17 October 2010, it reported pre-tax profits up 17.1% to £73.1m on turnover of £484.1m. It more recently said “strong trading momentum” had continued through the second half of the financial year.
Rooney Anand: Career guide
Rooney Anand, who was born in Delhi, India, moved to Walsall when he was two years old. Before joining Greene King, Anand spent 13 years in the food industry.
Anand worked at Terry’s Confectionery and McVitie’s before he moved to Sara Lee Bakery where he worked for five years as marketing director, general manager retail and, from October 1999, managing director.
He joined Greene King in August 2001 as managing director of its brewing division and was appointed chief executive in May 2005.
The group is the UK’s third largest pub company and the biggest integrated brewer and pub operator. Greene King IPA is the UK’s top-selling cask ale.
Rooney Anand: What we think
If any eyebrows were raised in the brewing community when Rooney Anand, with his background in consumer goods, was put in charge of Greene King’s beer operation in 2001, they were quickly lowered again.
Brewers traditionally saw beer as a commodity, to be turned out by the brewery and sold through tied pubs as quickly as possible - never mind the quality, measure the barrelage. Anand recognised that Greene King’s beers were brands, which with the right nurture and support could flourish.
In Greene King IPA the company has the UK’s best selling cask ale, while Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale are the number one and two premium cask ales respectively. In Scotland, Belhaven Best leads the ale market.
Anand’s appointment as chief executive in 2005 gave him overall responsibility for the group’s pub business as well, which he continues to drive though investment in the existing pubs, which include the Hungry Horse brand, and strategic acquisitions, which as well as the Belhaven pubs and brewing business in Scotland, has included Ridley’s in Essex, Hardys & Hansons in Nottingham, and the Loch Fyne seafood restaurant business.
Greene King’s strong financial position has allowed the acquisition programme to continue through the downturn. This year has seen the addition of two more managed chains - Cloverleaf, a value-for-money pub restaurant operation in the North of England, and Realpubs - adding 14 food-led locations in the buoyant London market.
With a newly negotiated five-year, £400m revolving credit facility also in place to support the retail expansion strategy, expect more to come.
Rooney Anand’s ranking in the 2010 Caterersearch.com 100 >>
Greene King ‘the toast of analysts >>
Greene King expands London presence >>
Greene King website >>