Caffè Nero reports UK sales up 13.5% in first quarter: Caffè Nero has reported UK sales were up 13.5% for the three months to 31 August 2023 compared with last year, with group level growth of 19%. During the period – which is the first quarter of its financial year – the group opened 18 new stores across its ten different territories, with nine of those coming in the UK. The group also continued its major store refurbishment programme, with more than 20 stores refurbished in the quarter in the UK. A further 100 stores are scheduled for refurbishment in the group during the remainder of the financial year as part of its continual upgrade of its store estate. The company said the UK has also had notable success with its mobile app. More than 32% of all UK store transactions are via the app and more than two million people currently use it in the UK. The app is accepted across the world in Caffè Nero stores, including the UK, US, Ireland, Turkey, Poland and Sweden. Between June and the end of August, Caffè Nero also continued expansion of its delivery sales in the UK, with delivery sales now accounting for almost 3% of its overall sales. Caffè Nero founder and group chief executive, Gerry Ford said: “Results in our first quarter were very encouraging across the group and enabled our financial year to get off to a strong start. Despite problematic weather in the UK, our summer iced drinks campaign was very successful, with our ‘coffee over ice’ range performing particularly strongly at 17.4% like-for-like sales growth. New drinks in our Frappe Crème range (including the Tropical Fro-Yo) meant the category achieved 5.4% like-for-like sales growth. We also saw very strong growth in our sliced cake range, which was in 20% growth year on year. Despite continuing inflation, I’m optimistic we can have a good second quarter. I know our new store openings pipeline is very strong.” Caffe Nero features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book. Its turnover of £349,083,000 for the year ending 31 May 2022 is the 27th highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

JKS raises $3m to aid expansion of new retail range: JKS Restaurants has raised $3m (£2.47m) to help fund growth in the UK and internationally of its newly launched retail range Gymkhana Fine Foods. The funding round, which was led by CAVU Consumer Partners, will aid the expansion of the Michelin-Star Indian cooking range for home, following its recently launch exclusively into Whole Foods Markets across London. Gymkhana Fine Food was developed by JKS (the group behind Gymkhana) in partnership with Gulrez Arora, a former Mars director. Together with Arora’s experience in the consumer goods market, the business said it aims to bring the same quality and experience to people’s kitchens at home. Arora said: “Having spent the last decade building and working with iconic brands, I’m excited to partner with JKS to bring the magic of Gymkhana into consumers’ homes. With a shared vision in elevating how Indian food is enjoyed at home, Gymkhana Fine Foods delivers the ultimate at home dining experience with recipes perfected in the kitchen of Gymkhana”. The initial range of eight products features four cooking sauces: butter masala, Goan curry, rogan josh, and vindaloo; two marinades: classic tandoori and roasted garlic & chilli; and two chutneys: peanut & sesame and tandoori onion. The business said it will allow consumers to recreate “Gymkhana’s legendary dishes at home in a few simple steps, without compromising on flavour”. Karam Sethi, co-founder of JKS, said: “The creation of Gymkhana Fine Foods has been driven by the same ambitions we had when first opening Gymkhana ten years ago. We want to offer an elevated and pure Indian dining experience that represents the true flavours of India. Each sauce, marinade and chutney require the simple addition of just one ingredient to easily recreate your own Gymkhana experience at home.” As part of its investment, CAVU’s Rohan Oza and Jared Jacobs will join Gymkhana Fine Food’s board.