Gusto Italian has announced the appointment of a new Head of Marketing, Kat Schofield, who will join the premium casual dining group in April.
Appointed by CEO Matt Snell, Kat joins from Revolution Bars Group where she currently heads up Brand Marketing for Revolución de Cuba.
Kat will support further development and amplification of the outstanding experiences that Gusto Italian has become renowned for, while bringing a new level of expertise to the group’s digital offer, helping to drive personalisation.
Matt commented, “Kat is an experienced marketeer who already has a deep understanding of and affinity with our brand. She is a serious foodie and we look forward to seeing the direction she will take our food offer.
'She has driven the marketing functions for national brands and we can’t wait to see the benefit this level of experience will bring to our marketing activity and the leadership team at Gusto Italian.”
Kat Schofield added, “It is a truly exciting time to be joining Gusto Italian. I’ve long admired the work that Matt and the team have been doing, both in developing the visual identity of the estate, and in delivering unrivalled guest experiences.
Gusto is a genuinely unique proposition in Italian casual dining and I believe the potential for the brand is massive. I can’t wait to dive in and help the brand continue on its impressive growth trajectory and position Gusto Italian as the go-to destination for special occasions.”
Schofield who was recognised by Restaurant Marketer & Innovator in its 2022 ‘30 Under 30’ list of talented future leaders in marketing, innovation and strategy roles, joins Gusto Italian with an extensive CV which also includes senior marketing roles working on premium brands at, Marston’s PLC and Greene King.
Kat joins at a definitive moment of Gusto Italian’s growth strategy, as the company expands its footprint and makes substantial upgrades to its core estate.
The group opened its first southern site, in Oxford, late last year after a £1.8mi investment, in addition to carrying out full refurbishments at its Edinburgh and Alderley Edge locations, as part of a self-funded £2m CAPEX programme.
Forecast for further growth looks bright as recent customer feedback data illustrates the Gusto Italian model is hugely popular with consumers.
Scores have reached record levels, the first-class experience reflected in an average Net Promoter Score in the high 80s, compared to an industry average of 55, and an average amongst the other leading casual dining operators in the high 60s.
In addition to investing in its restaurants, Gusto Italian has also been investing in the people who work there.
Last year, the company announced a new partnership with PayCaptain, which strengthened its employee proposition and pushed financial awareness and wellbeing up the agenda for its people.
It also launched an apprenticeship scheme, which will enable Junior Managers to achieve a degree-level qualification, bridging the skills gap and improving pathways for progression within the business.