Trailblazers

Cooking up a storm

Dec 06/Jan 07 issue

Analysts are expecting turnover to reach £45 million this year with a rise of 50 per cent in the following year. Although it has had a strong run recently, Clapham House is still trading at a discount to its competitors, mainly because it is the fastest-growing company in its sector. He says: ‘If we trip up, it hurts. The analysts are a bit fixated on numbers in the short term. If you say you are going to open 20 units and you only open 16, then they will say it is all going horribly wrong. In fact, you have done rather well and might open 24 the next year.

‘Our message is that the most important number for us is cash generation. We are currently expecting £4.5 million this year and £8 million in the following year.’
Beyond making money for his shareholders, Page is clear about his own motivation: he wants to prove that Pizza Express was not a one-hit wonder. He says: ‘We like the business model of rolling out restaurants to the public across the country. We are still on a mission to make eating out decent and affordable.’

Personal profile

Name: David Page
Title: Chairman, Clapham House
Age: 54
Favourite dish: Lamb burger
Career hero: Peter Boizot crossed with Hugh Osmond
Rule of thumb? ‘Don’t bet it all on one project, one horse or one restaurant’