Patel has served as Chief Operating Officer of UK-based Flour Power Group since April 2020 and succeeds James Fleming in leading the Patisserie Valerie and Bakers + Baristas bakery-café chains
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A flagship Patisserie Valerie store at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol | Photo credit: Patisserie Valerie
Flour Power Group, the parent company of UK bakery-café chains Patisserie Valerie and Bakers + Baristas, has promoted Chief Operating Officer Vikesh Patel to Group CEO.
Patel succeeds James Fleming, who is departingf the hospitality group after seven years in the role to pursue new opportunities.
Patel joined Birmingham-based Flour Power Group in 2018 when the hospitality group acquired his 37-store coffee business, Love Koffee. He joined Flour Power Group’s senior leadership team the following year and was appointed the group’s Chief Operating Officer in April 2020.
“I’m thrilled to lead such a talented team in shaping the next stage growth for the group. Building on the strong heritage of our brands, and our market leading innovation pipeline, I’m excited about the growth opportunities across all our channels,” Patel said.
Flour Power Group is majority-owned by Irish private equity firm Causeway Capital, which acquired Patisserie Valerie for £8m after the brand collapsed into administration in 2019 following a £40m accounting scandal.
After being acquired by Causeway, Patisserie Valerie steadily shrunk its then 190-store estate and now operates just 10 stores. Today, the business also operates a direct-to-consumer delivery channel and 400 concession kiosks at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the UK.
Causeway Capital first invested in Bakers + Baristas in 2015. The bakery-café chain currently has 58 sites across the UK and Ireland.