F&B · Multi-site Restaurant Group
The Kove Collection
F&B Leadership, Commercial Discipline & Multi-Site Growth
Summary Statement
The Kove Collection was a premium, founder-led restaurant and lifestyle group across Cape Town — strong locations, lean executive team, high commercial pressure. The environment combined analog restaurateur instinct with a growing need for professional systems at scale, across a seven-figure annual revenue operation spanning multiple concepts.
The Mandate
Build commercial discipline without losing the creativity, speed and instinct that made the group successful. Drive P&L visibility and weekly F&B cost reporting. Control bulk buying, supplier agreements, rebates and product specifications. Lead menu development and support concept growth across pre-openings and rebrands.
Strategic Insight
The strongest operators combine analog instinct with commercial systems — they understand the guest, the numbers, the product, the supplier, the team and the market deciding whether the idea lives or dies. Kove sharpened my ability to operate where brand, instinct, speed and commercial pressure all exist at once.
Key Metrics
Seven-figure
Annual revenue operation
55%
Gross profit benchmark
100+
Menu projects in one year
Outcomes
BRAND
Supplier partnerships converted into brand-fit activations and private label wines. Growth projects delivered across Incognito, Bobo's Brasserie, Surfshack and Baptiste Rooftop Bar.
OPERATIONAL
Commercial discipline strengthened across buying, supplier compliance, cost monitoring and weekly reporting. Menu development scaled across 100+ rollouts. Supported 4+ concept pre-openings and rebrands.
DIGITAL
TabletPOS and MarketMan rolled out across the group. Systems adoption improved purchasing visibility and stock control.
COMMERCIAL
Maintained food cost at 30–32%, beverage at 26–28%, and payroll at 15% — delivering 55% gross profit across a seven-figure annual revenue operation.
Kove sharpened my ability to operate where brand, instinct, speed and commercial pressure all exist at once.
The strongest operators combine analog instinct with commercial systems.
Confidentiality Notice
This case study is a professional portfolio summary based on my role, leadership contribution, and project involvement. It does not disclose confidential company information, proprietary information, trade secrets, guest data, supplier information, internal intellectual property, or commercially sensitive operating materials. Financial and operational outcomes are presented in broad ranges, percentages, or directional terms for context only. Brand names are referenced solely to identify the professional environment in which the work was performed, and no endorsement, affiliation, or authorization is implied unless expressly stated.