Mark Holt was about to make staff redundant as his financial base struggled.
But thanks to the quick thinking of one of his staff faced with the prospect of losing her job, life is no longer looking pizza pie-in-the-sky, as his fast food chain has really flourished.
Less than two years ago Pizza Hut franchisee Mark, faced switching off the ovens in his two outlets, but now he is the chain’s biggest operator in the North East of England.
Work is now red hot for Mark, who currently has six Pizza Hut fast food stores and it’s all down to a corporate recovery company based in Dubai.
Mark explained: ”It’s been a complete turn around from printing out people’s notices to now looking at running a work force of 120.”
“I was running two stores and sadly looking at closure. They were trading well but the business could not service the debts run up by previous owners. I had called in staff and was about to give out the first redundancy notices.”
“That evening one of the employees rang me and she told me her husband worked for a Dubai-based corporate recovery company which would be interested in looking at working together.”
The firm was The RU Group run by fellow Dubai-based entrepreneur Richard Upshall.
Richard’s RU Group has offices around the world. A successful entrepreneur, Richard, is constantly looking for business and other interesting projects which need his company’s backing, and expert advice.
A new business plan was drawn up, and the aptly named RU Hungry company rose from the ashes.
The business stabilised, no jobs were lost, and with investment worth £1 million coming to the table the two store enterprise swiftly turned into six.
Business saviour Richard said: ”We provided Mark and his team access to business development, IT, marketing and accountancy.”
“Now the business has its own management structure. I flew to the UK to open a third store in the town of Hartlepool, and in all there is now six in the region.”
“Sixty jobs have been saved, where jobs are very hard to come by.”
“Mark and his team are completely dedicated and have put the work in. He had experienced working for other companies and owners, and seen things suffer because of a lack of investment, refurbishment and training.”
The sustained growth has seen Mark able to raise the money to repay RU Group and purchase the business which was once hardly making him a crust.
Richard added: ”I take what I would call a philanthropic look at a business or cause, and those behind it.
“It might be a one man band or a multinational that needs our input and advice on how to go forwards. We are constantly looking for projects like these. It has been a success story for Mark and for my team as well.”
For more information on the RU Group please contact : Ben Azadi 07742500759
For Mark Holt please contact : MBK Foods, Head Office 01642633633
Former Hartlepool United footballer Dimi Konstantopoulos, who now plays for Middlesbrough FC, and Samantha Durnan, a singer from Teesside, added a bit of glitz and glamour to the unveiling of the new Pizza Hut in Catcote Road.
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