Home bird
ENTREPRENEUR Oli Norman revealed this week he is open to acquiring more outlets for his expanding portfolio of bars and restaurants, which includes The Griffin and Brel in Glasgow.
But he told The Bottom Line that acquisition activity will continue to be governed by strict criteria.
And that means Mr Norman, who owns daily deals website itison, will not be venturing beyond his home city. He said: “All of them fall within a strategy of different types of building, they all have a uniqueness about that, but they are all located on my cycle home! That is a genuine strategy. People think I’m joking but I mean it. [It is] so I can enjoy them.”
Raising a glass
DUNBAR’S Belhaven Brewer is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year – and it has lined up a series of events to mark the milestone.
The brewery, founded by local man John Johnstone in 1719, is opening a £500,000 visitor centre, hosting a weekend music festival and putting on a range of Belhaven-themed parties across export nations as far afield as Russia and the US. Customers will also have the opportunity to win tickets for New York Tartan Week 2020.
Managing director Matt Starbuck said: “John Johnstone would no doubt be delighted to see his beloved brewery today, not only the oldest working brewery in Scotland and the home of Scottish brewing but a thriving innovative business and a great Scottish success story abroad.”
Talking growth
TWO high-profile figures from the business world have been booked to speak at the next Entrepreneurial Scotland annual conference in spring.
Jo Fairley, co-founder of chocolate brand Green and Blacks, and Shortlist Media founder Mike Souter will take to the stage and share their experience as entrepreneurs at Gleneagles. Further speakers will be named in the coming weeks, with the event set to tackle the key issues facing high-growth organisations in Scotland.
Entrepreneurial Scotland chief Sandy Kennedy said: “I look forward to Jo and Mike sharing some fascinating insights into their personal journeys and I shall reveal more of our programme soon.”
Going west
AMID the relentless coverage of future trading relations with Europe, one Scottish firm has been looking west. The Scottish Salmon Company this week made its debut at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, where it showcased its smoked Lochlander Salmon to a global audience of speciality food and drink representatives. It was the only Scottish producer present at the show’s UK pavilion.
Chief executive Craig Anderson said: “We are delighted to make our inaugural appearance at the Winter Fancy Food Show. We take great pride in our Scottish roots and heritage and are passionate about our Scottish provenance. This is demonstrated through our commitment to bringing the finest quality Scottish Salmon to worldwide markets.”
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