Hanna is the frontrunner to replace CEO Nick Ayerst, who has announced he is stepping down from the Levantine restaurant group to pursue an “exciting career opportunity”.
In a surprise move, Tony Kitous, Comptoir Group’s founder and creative director, has proposed Hanna as an appropriate successor to replace Ayerst, despite forcing his resignation as CEO in 2022. In June 2022, Kitous wrote to the Comptoir board calling for the resignations of Hanna and chairman Richard Kleiner as directors of the company.
The pair eventually stepped down from their roles.
In another twist, Kleiner has in principle agreed to rejoin the company as chairman.
Positive trading figures
The changes in personnel come as Comptoir revealed its trading figures for 2024, where group revenue for the year ending 29 December rose 9.5% to £34.5m.
Like-for-like sales in the second half year of the year rose by 2.9% and full-year like-for-like sales were up 1.9%.
The group also said it had its most successful Christmas trading period to date, with sales for the six-week trading period ending 5 January 2025 totalling £4.6m, representing a 19% increase for the same period the previous year.
“2024 has not been without its challenges as the general economic climate and sector specific cost pressures continue to bear down on the group. Despite this backdrop, the senior management team has delivered a year of both sales and profit growth,” says Ayerst.
“The performance in the second half of the year was particularly pleasing, with an increasing cash balance and a strong Christmas trading due to a concerted effort by the team to elevate the guest experience.
“Furthermore, we have continued to invest in refurbishments, technology, sustainability and especially our people, where we have industry leading team engagement. These investments, which have now concluded, together with our new managed and franchised restaurants are building a solid foundation for the group.”
At the year-end, Comptoir Group owned and operated 22 owned restaurants, with a further six franchisee restaurants with three partners.
Recent openings include Comptoir Libanais Southbank, which opened in April 2024, a site of its shawarma-led fast casual restaurant brand Shawa, which opened in Abu Dhabi’s Zayad International Airport with franchise partner Avolta, and Comptoir Libanais Milan Malpensa Italy.
The group’s Kenza Restaurant and Bar in Devonshire Square has closed.
