The Grocer – 10 August 2019

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Mike Rainer takes on

new role of MD at Eat

Mike Rainer will oversee Eat’s integration into Pret

Lyndsey Cambridge
Chief finance officer Mike
Rainer will assume the
role of managing direc-
tor at Eat while the food-
to-go retailer continues to
trade as a separate entity
to Pret a Manger.
The Grocer under-
stands that following
Eat’s acquisition by its
high street rival Pret,
Rainer will lead the
integration, which is
expected to begin later
this year, after chief
executive Andrew Walker
stepped down this week.
The completion of the
Pret deal is expected to
be announced immi-
nently, having been sub-
ject to scrutiny by the UK
Competition & Markets
Authority.
Speaking at the time of
the deal’s announcement

on 22 May, Walker said

many of the sandwich

chain’s 90 stores were

likely to be converted to

Veggie Prets in a bid to

‘turbocharge’ the growth

of that brand.

After three years at the

helm of Eat, Walker will

now be taking time away

from the industry to con-

sider his future plans.

“I am unbelievably

proud of my last three

years leading Eat through

a significant period of

change,” he said.

“Helped by the fantas-

tic team from the ground

up, we were able to turn

around the business, evi-

denced by our last finan-

cial year where we saw a

significant improvement

in our trading perfor-

mance, sparking Pret’s

interest.

“Mike was a key part

of this success, so I

leave Eat in very capable

hands.

“I look forward to tak-

ing a much-needed break

before considering my

options in the future.”

Rainer added: “I would

like to thank Andrew for

his leadership and vision

over the past few years

and I’m pleased to con-

tinue his work by steer-

ing Eat through the next

stage as we integrate

with Pret.

The vast majority of

colleagues will be stay-

ing on at the combined

group and customers will

continue to benefit from

our creativity and drive

for excellence.”

CATAX is the largest

service provider of R&D

tax credit claims, and

is seeking a sales agent.

CATAX is currently

taking on over 300 new

cases per month.

The right candidate

will be given full

training, BDM in-field

support, pre-set client

meetings for the first

month and advance

commission payments.

The role would suit a

candidate with B2B sales

experience. Accounting

qualifications are not

required.

Interested? See p56.

i want that job

my alternative cv

What was your first job?

Head waitress and bar-

tender at The Living

Room, Oxford.

What’s been your worst

job interview? For a con-

struction recruitment

company. I lasted one

day there.

What was the first music

single you bought? Peter

Andre – Mysterious Girl

(proud).

How do you describe

your job to your mates? I

am ‘that gin girl’... No one

knows me any more, they

just know me as ‘gin girl’.

What is the most reward-

ing part of your job?

Seeing people drinking

our product worldwide.

When I see an Instagram

posts of people drink-

ing our gin on the other

side of the world I have to

pinch myself. And then

ask how it got there!

What is the least reward-

ing part? Tight cash-

flow, and not being paid

what we are worth or

the amount of emotional

energy we are putting

into our business. But we

appreciate every small

business owner must feel

this.

What is your motto in

life? Regret is worse than

failure.

If you were allowed one

dream perk, what would

it be? Having an office in

the south of France. One

d ay...

Do you have any pho-

bias? Cotton wool! And of

the unknown...

If you could change one

thing in grocery, what

would it be? Being able

to get in front of buy-

ers! Everything is done

by email as everyone is

so busy, but we want to

show our passion for the

product.

What luxury would you

have on a desert island?

A bottle of Collagin! And

if that is not allowed,

my Kindle because I get

through a book a week.

What animal most

reflects your person-

ality? Julien from

Madagascar.

What’s your favourite

film and why? Deadpool,

because it has the enter-

taining mix of death

and hilarity, and Ryan

Reynolds is just the best.

What has been the most

embarrassing moment

in your life? People who

know me know there are

a few... But the train toilet

doors opening on me on

a packed commuter train

to York is up there.

Which celebrity would

you most like to work

with and why? David

Attenborough, because

I want him to be the

voiceover on my life.

What would your death

row meal be? Roast din-

ner, all the meat bar

lamb!

Cam Brown
Co-founder and director,
Collagin, on Peter Andre,
regrets and Deadpool

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