Gail’s has signalled its intention to grow its business overseas with the appointment of its first international managing director.
The bakery chain has appointed Harry Goss, former partner and head of foodservice at McWin Capital Partners which has backed Gail’s since 2021, to the newly created role.
Prior to his three-and-a-half years stint at McWin (which saw him become a Gail’s board member in 2022), Goss has also sat on the boards of hospitality businesses Flat Iron and Sticks & Sushi with much of his career before that in financial services with Nomura.
“Harry brings extensive experience from iconic hospitality brands including Sticks’n’Sushi, Lina Stores and Flat Iron, as well as the last four years at McWin and four years on our Board,” said Gail’s CEO Tom Molnar.
“This marks an important step as we explore opportunities beyond the UK. For the past 20 years, Gail’s has been committed to improving the UK food system so we can feed more people better. Harry will be speaking with like-minded craft bakers across Europe and the US to develop partners aligned with our values and key purpose.”
Speaking to British Baker’s sister brand MCA last year, Goss said McWin undertakes a rigorous assessment process to evaluate whether a brand should venture outside of its home country. When it came to Gail’s, he said this was a “resounding yes” although “it does not mean it will be easy”.
Expansion is continuing in the UK for Gail’s at the same time with 190+ stores currently in operation and around 30 locations being added annually. Earlier this month it opened its largest shop in London although managing director Nick Ayerst has also signalled that sites in shopping centres are on the agenda for this year as it looks to tap into opportunities in new areas.
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