Comptoir Group CEO Nick Ayerst will join Gail’s at the end of March 2025 and work alongside Bread Holdings Chief Operating Officer Marta Pogroszewska to deliver the bakery-café chain’s ambitious expansion plans
Gail’s currently operates 160 UK stores | Photo credit: Siyi
UK bakery-café group Gail’s has appointed Nick Ayerst as its new Managing Director, effective 31 March 2025.
Writing on LinkedIn, Gail’s current Managing Director Marta Pogroszewska said Ayerst brings extensive hospitality industry experience and ‘people-focused leadership’ to the role, which will strengthen Gail’s growth plans. The 160-store bakery-café chain is seeking to open up to 40 new sites in 2025, with a focus on vacant high street bank buildings
Ayerst joins Gail’s from London-based restaurant group Comptoir Group where he has served as CEO since October 2022. He previously held Managing Director roles at UK coffee and food-to-go chain LEON and travel hub concession operator TRG Concessions.
Pogroszewska has served as Gail’s Managing Director since February 2019 and took on extra responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer of the premium operator’s parent company Bread Holdings in November 2023. Ayerst will report to Pogroszewska, whose new role is Managing Director and COO of Bread Holdings.
Gail’s, voted Europe’s Best Bakery/Food Chain at the 2024 European Coffee & Hospitality Awards, achieved 27.5% year-on-year group revenue growth during the 12 months ended 29 February 2024 to reach £231.7m ($294.3m). The London-based business is targeting £300m ($381m) in sales during its current financial year.
In November 2024, Sky News reported that Bread Holdings had appointed New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs to auction a sale of Gail’s, with the boutique bakery-café group potentially being valued as high as £500m ($525m).