Krispy Kreme set for roll-out as UK turnover passes £50m: Krispy Kreme is set for a sustained roll-out after transforming its performance in the UK in the most recent financial year. The company has reported a 16% increase in turnover in the UK to hit £52,393,000 in the year to 2 February 2014 – turnover was £45,073,435 the year prior. Adjusted Ebitda before exceptional items of £9,419,000 (18% of sales) compared with £1,674,000 (4% of sales) in the previous year. Return on investment rose to 31.2% compared to 5.3% the year before. Pre-tax profit was £3,166,379 compared to a loss of £2,797,244 the year before. The company stated: “The business has made significant progress during the year, increasing sales by 16%. The company opened new retail stores in Edinburgh and London Bridge and operated 50 retail stores at 2 February (2013: 51 stores). The company continues to expand its off-premises business through the introduction of in-store cabinets with its long-standing partners – Tesco, Moto, Welcome Break and Roadchef. The directors are pleased with the trading performance, in particular the strong performance of its growing business in Scotland and the significant improvement in gross margin to 53% (2013: 47%). (It) provides a stable and cash generative base on which the directors intend to build a sustained and measured roll-out over the coming years as suitable sites become available.” The number of employees increased to 1,034 from 991 the year before. 

Northcote’s sommelier joins 220-strong Master Sommelier elite: Country house hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote’s head sommelier Adam Pawlowski has become a Master Sommelier. It is widely regarded as one of the hardest diplomas in the world, with only 220 passing the exam since its inception in the UK more than 40 years ago. Broken down into three components – theory, practical and tasting – candidates have only three years to pass before they must start again if they do not succeed. Adam – now the first master sommelier from Poland and the 220th in the world – passed his theory last year and both his practical and tasting on 31 October. Pawlowski said: “It’s been a journey but I really enjoyed the process – this year I was the only successful candidate out of the 24 who sat the exam. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve it without the help of my friends and the support that I have been kindly given by Craig, Nigel and the team at Northcote.”