Rose told BigHospitality that following a strategic review of the business, he would implement a growth plan that would look to maximise sales and profits at the company’s current five venues as well as looking at opportunities to add further sites across the UK.
“I didn’t join to run a five-venue business,” he said. “We have every intention of growing the business and the shareholders are on board with that.”
He added that he had already received informal approaches from investors interested in providing capital for growth.
ASL currently has four sites in London and one in Manchester, which it opened in 2013. Total net sales grew by 6 to 7 per cent in 2014 to more than £14m. “We want to smash that figure in 2015,” said Rose.
The company has been without a managing director for nearly nine months following the departure of co-founder and chief executive Mark von Westenholz. Rose said the management team had done a good job during the period, but the business now required “a change of direction and a new strategy”.
“All Star Lanes is an exciting and dynamic proposition - the product it offers is truly unique,” he said. “I see huge potential within existing sites and serious opportunities to expand the already well-established estate.”