Member Article

Owner of global restaurant franchise turns to Seaham cost management firm

Dublin-based Press Up Entertainment Group (PUE), the parent firm of popular oriental-themed restaurant Wagamama, has appointed Seaham-based Great Annual Savings Group (GAS) to conduct an extensive review of its running costs in a bid to save substantial sums of money.

Following the review, which covered contracts between PUE and its key service providers, the two companies have now struck a deal that will see the leisure operator make savings of more than €100,000 (£83,600) over the two-year contract.

The partnership marks the latest milestone in the expansion of GAS, which recently announced plans to double its 150-strong workforce by the end of June 2017.

Bradley Groves, chairman and chief executive of Great Annual Savings Group, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with one of Ireland’s most distinguished leisure and hospitality operators.

“During a review of their business, we discovered that some of the contracts had elapsed and, as a result, many sites were paying above-market, out-of-contract rates.

“We’ve now been able to address this and we’re currently undertaking an audit of individual sites to see where we can make further savings.”

PUE has interests in a variety of sectors, most notably hotels, bars, restaurants, venues and nightclubs. The group provides employment for more than 1,000 people across its 26 businesses, which include Wagamama, the Vintage Cocktail Club, Captain Americas Cookhouse and Bar, and Peruke & Periwig - all of which are headquartered in the Republic of Ireland.

Alexandra Handzlewicz, group cost controller at PUE, said: “We were looking to save money on our running costs but didn’t want the hassle of renegotiating contracts with all of our individual suppliers. The appointment of GAS has taken that job out of our hands and the company’s experience in dealing with these issues will enable us to make significant cost savings as we look to grow the business.”

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