A conversation with hospitality sector legend Robin Rowland OBE. Robin boasts a long and varied career in hospitality, as operator (perhaps best known for taking Yo! Sushi from 2 to over 100 units) and more recently as investor with global private equity fund TriSpan. In a wide ranging conversation he shares amongst other things his insights into the future of hospitality in a post-Covid world, and how he approaches the sensitive topic of valuations in such a volatile climate. This is one not to miss!
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In this fourth episode of Challenger Chats our host Adam Spencer is joined by Robin Rowland OBE, Operating Partner at investment fund TriSpan, Chair of Challenger hospitality brands Rosa’s Thai and Thunderbird Chicken and board member at Caffe Nero, Fuller’s and UKHospitality. This podcast is slightly different from our other podcasts. Usually we interview the founders and operators behind our favourite Challenger Brands. And whilst Robin is no longer an operator he is one of the key people behind TriSpan, which is itself a Challenger Brand in the world of hospitality investing.
A true legend in hospitality circles, this man knows what it takes to build, grow and sell Challenger Brands. His illustrious career spans growing niche challenger brands in new categories, to working with some of the most recognised household names in UK food and drink. In this conversation we touch on differences between the US and UK’s dining out landscapes, how he has found the transition to being sat on the other side of the table as an investor, his current take on valuations, and what his Gen-Z kids are teaching him about the future of the UK hospitality sector.
