AF Blakemore is looking to expand its Philpotts sandwich chain for the first time since the business was severely affected by changing customer behaviour during the coronavirus pandemic.
Blakemore bought Philpotts in February 2019 following the administration of former owner Patisserie Valerie. At the time the estate was made up of 21 stores mainly based across city centres including London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow.
However, sales were hit during the pandemic as city centre footfall declined during lockdowns and due to the rise in people working from home, causing them to shut the stores.
The wholesaler has since reduced the size of the estate to 16. Of these, 15 have reopened. The remaining site in Edgbaston, Birmingham, is still closed after it was subject to water damage. It is set to reopen this side of Christmas.
However, Blakemore group commercial MD Jerry Marwood told The Grocer two new stores were set to open by the spring.
He said the business had been redeveloping the Philpotts proposition, and was looking at opportunities within home delivery and longer trading hours into the evening.
“We never lost faith,” said Marwood. “Our commitment to the brand and to the proposition is no less. It’s just had to change.”
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