Loungers, the Bristol-based all-day café/bar group, has announced that Justin Carter will join the business as chief operating officer.
Carter will leave his current role as operations director at Fuller’s in December and join Loungers at the beginning of 2015. Carter previously founded the Elbow Room chain, which he ran for 13 years before selling it in 2008. He joined Fuller’s in February 2011.
Carter’s appointment will bolster Loungers’ senior management team as the group continues to build on a sustained period of fast growth. Current COO Nick Collins will step up to work more closely with Loungers MD Alex Reilley.
Perfect cultural fit
Speaking of the appointment Loungers MD, Alex Reilley, said, “We’re seriously delighted that Justin has agreed to join us. First and foremost we consider him to be the perfect cultural fit for the business, and he is clearly an extremely experienced and well-respected operator. He also knows what it’s like to have your own business and, in addition to a wealth of operational expertise, we also see him bringing some major entrepreneurial thinking to the table.
“In our view Justin’s appointment is a clear statement of intent and we feel that with Justin on board coupled with Nick’s continued progression we are extremely well set to see the business grow to hundreds of sites.”
Loungers opened their 51st site, Kino Lounge, in Kettering at the end of August and will reach 56 sites by the end of the year. A further 20 openings are planned for 2015.