Byron appoints Steve de Polo as commercial and brand director: Better burger brand Byron has appointed Steve de Polo as commercial and brand director. De Polo joins from Ei Group, where he was customer director in charge of sales and marketing, digital, food, insight and concept development for the group. Byron said de Polo’s appointment comes at an important time for the company and will further strengthen its customer services capabilities as the chain continues to offer its diners “the best premium burger experience in the restaurant sector”. As part of his role at Ei Group, de Polo led the Bermondsey Pub Company through a formative stage as it grew from ten to 30 pubs, and has latterly been responsible for establishing consumer marketing, food and digital strategy for Ei Group as it transforms from a leased and tenanted business into the largest portfolio manager of pubs across the UK. Prior to joining Ei Group, de Polo worked for Mitchells & Butlers across a variety of operational, change and strategic marketing roles, as well as leading the successful management and integration of the Orchid Group following its acquisition from Deutsche Bank in 2012. De Polo will start at the end of June and lead Byron’s marketing, menu development and supply chain functions and will report directly to Byron chief executive Simon Cope. Cope said: “I am delighted to welcome Steve to the Byron team. 2018 is proving an important, pivotal year for Byron and Steve’s best-in-class experience delivering consumer-centric changes in a commercially focused way will prove invaluable to this new chapter in our growth and development. I am looking forward to working with Steve as we take Byron to the next level of customer service delivery.”
Jamie Oliver opens first site for Pizzeria concept in Dubai: Chef Jamie Oliver has opened a first site for his Pizzeria concept in Dubai. Jamie Oliver Pizzeria has launched in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers development. Oliver previously operated two of his other restaurant brands in the United Arab Emirates city – in Dubai Festival City and Jumeirah Beach Hotel – but both have since closed. A spokesman for Jamie Oliver Group said: “This is our second restaurant with partners Apparel and sixth international Pizzeria restaurant. Our new restaurant is in a prime location in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Hosting around 115 covers, including a bright outdoor space, the new restaurant will be serving up amazing hand-stretched pizzas, fresh salads, al forno dishes and more. The opening was led by Ben and Anna from our ops team. A big shout out also to Tamas, the head chef from our Pizzeria in Budapest, and Becky from Jamie’s Italian Cardiff, who have been supporting the opening. Congratulations to all involved!” Oliver has recently suffered financial woes with some of his operations in the UK and the Australian arm of Jamie’s Italian, which entered administration earlier this week leading to Brisbane-based Hallmark Group taking over the operation of the chain’s Australian franchises. However, much of Oliver’s international arm continues to go from strength to strength. This month, transport hub foodservice specialist SSP Group opened a Jamie’s Deli at Nice airport, while in March the company launched his Pizzeria concept in the Netherlands. Jamie Oliver currently has more than 50 sites internationally across 24 countries.
