Co-founders Nick, Andrew and Laura Tolley are stepping down next month from their positions at Harris + Hoole, and returning to their first coffee business, Taylor Street Baristas.
There has been speculation for some time about Tesco’s intentions towards harris + Hoole (where it has a 49% stake), as well as its Giraffe restaurant chain. At this point, it appears that the Tolleys are retaining their majority share, though management will be taken over by the Operations Director, Colin Bell, CFO Richard Harpham, People Director Charlie Glynn, and head of Coffee Jochem Werhrijen.
Nick Tolley, co-founder and CEO of Harris+Hoole, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what Harris+Hoole has achieved in just three years, from a standing start to 46 stores and a team of more than 500 fantastic people whom I’ve hugely enjoyed working with.
“At the same time that Harris+Hoole has been growing, Taylor Street Baristas, the first coffee business I founded with my brother and sister, has also been going from strength to strength.
“Amongst other things, we’ll be opening the first Taylor Street Baristas store in New York later this year, so it feels like the right time for me and my siblings to return to focusing on Taylor Street Baristas, leaving the excellent Harris+Hoole management team in charge.
“Our partnership with Tesco has enabled Harris+Hoole to develop a fantastic proposition for the high street and I’m very proud of where we leave the business today.
“The coffee expertise brought by my brother and others from Taylor Street Baristas has been embedded into Harris+Hoole. World class barista training and coffee made using the best seasonal beans and equipment is very much part of Harris+Hoole’s DNA – and I’ll certainly still be stopping by for a coffee!”
Nick Tolley is Co-Founder and Chairman of Taylor Street Baristas and will act in this role in a full time capacity from August 2015. Andrew Tolley and Laura Tolley will also return to Taylor Street Baristas full time as Co-Founder and Head of Coffee (Andrew), and Co-Founder (Laura).