Three years since founding the Tesco-backed coffeehouse, the siblings behind Harris + Hoole are moving on.
Andrew, Nick and Laura Tolley, who set up the artisan coffee shop chain in partnership with Britain‘s biggest supermarket chain, will retain their 51% stake “at this point in time” a spokeswoman said, although they will no longer be involved in its management however.
The Tolleys will instead re-focus their efforts on their Taylor St Baristas coffee chain which is poised to open its first international store outlet in New York later this year, following a cash injection of £1.9m from crowdfunding site Crowdcube.
Commenting on their departure, Nick Tolley said: “It feels like the right time for me and my siblings to return to focusing on Taylor St Baristas, leaving the excellent Harris + Hoole management team in charge.”
The move comes amid rumours that Tesco is planning to divest its share of the coffee retailer, which will now be run by members of its existing management team including Operational Director, Colin Bell, and Finance Officer, Richard Harpham.
“We‘d like to thank the Tolleys for all their hard work in making Harris + Hoole the popular, exciting brand it is today … It‘s clear customers have come to love the service, experience and high-quality coffee the brand offers. We will continue to work in partnership with the management board and look forward to the business progressing in the future,” said a representative from Tesco.
