Bass franchise to boost its concepts

New director hired as leisure retail group plans support for brands

Bass Leisure Retail is exploring ideas for developing a pub franchise to boost roll-out of its retail brands.

It has appointed Peter Thomas (pictured)​, the former managing director of Bass Lease Company and Punch Taverns, to the new job of director of franchise development.

He is looking at the potential of launching a new agreement within strict brand guidelines which would allow entrepreneurs and other operators to open outlets under the company's formats.

Bass Leisure Retail, which is set to become Six Continents Retail at the end of this month, operates All Bar One, O'Neill's, Edwards, Ember Inns, Vintage Inns, Harvester, Bar Coast, Goose and Browns.

Communications director Bob Cartwright said: "Peter's primary role will be to work closely with the operations and marketing teams to research and develop ways in which the distribution of some of our developing brands and concepts could be extended through franchising or other related means."

Bass Hotels has successfully developed its franchise operations with its Inter-Continental brand, which is run by franchisees worldwide.

"We want to see if there is potential for similar operations for our retail brands in addition to the managed structure that we currently operate," Mr Cartwright said.

Mr Thomas worked at Bass for 25 years and remained at the helm of its leased business after it was sold to create Punch Taverns in 1998. He was leasing operations director, in charge of Punch Pub Company's 3,300 leased pubs, until the end of April this year.

Bass is preparing to begin rebranding its pub business as Six Continents Retail after selling its brewing arm and Bass name to Interbrew last year.

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Bass pub estate to be part of Six Continents Retail (28 June, 2001)