Bath Ales ,the operator of three Graze Bar and Chop House sites, led by Robin Couling has just reported strong sales growth as it opened a flagship site in Bath. Sales rose 25.5% to £6,868,739 in the year to 31 August 2012, up from £5,474,734 the year before. Pre-tax profits dropped to £85,236 from £352,966 the year before as it funded new openings. Gross profit margin rose from 27.7% to 29.9%.
The company stated: “Cash flow remains very strong across the group for the year and the group balance sheet has strengthened greatly. The growth of the group will continue and we will seek suitable sites.” The Bath Ale business was subsumed within a new holding company, Hare it House Holdings, in July 2011.