EAT. the fast-growing fresh food, soup and coffee company, has announced the appointment of Adrian Johnson as the new Chief Executive of the business. Adrian joins EAT. from Costa Coffee, the Whitbread subsidiary, where he was most recently Managing Director of Costa Retail overseeing a trebling of store numbers and driving consistent like-for-like growth.
This appointment is a crucial next step in the long term growth plans for the business, which will see EAT. double its number of stores.
Adrian joins EAT. after a 22 year career at Whitbread where he worked across a range of Whitbread businesses in various roles since joining Whitbread in 1991 as a store manager for TGI Fridays. He joined Costa in 2005 as Operations Director and was appointed to the role of Managing Director for Costa Retail in 2012.
It is anticipated that he will take up his new role at EAT. with effect from 1 June 2013. Niall MacArthur will remain on the Board of EAT. and will continue to play a role in the business in a non-executive capacity.
In a further strengthening of its Board, EAT. Has appointed retail industry veteran Tony Solomons as a senior independent Non-executive Director. Tony was previously a member of the Waitrose Management Board for over 16 years, and was Waitrose Retail Director from 2007 until 2012.
Philip Buscombe, Chairman of Lyceum Capital, the majority owner of EAT. commented:
“We are delighted that Adrian and Tony are both joining the Board of EAT. Their combined experience in the food retail sector will be invaluable in ensuring the business can fulfill the Board’s ambitious growth strategy, based upon the firm foundations set in place by EAT.’s co-founders Niall and Faith MacArthur.”