Chef recruitment remains ‘challenging’ at Ottolenghi group

Ottolenghi group has revealed it was “forced to change operating hours” in some instances due to staff shortages.

In its latest trading report for the year ended 31 March 2023, the restaurant group said the recruitment of chefs “continues to prove challenging” in the wake of Brexit and Covid-19.

It added the “most material impact to our EBITDA margins”, which fell from £2.9m in 2022 to £2.8m in 2023, came from wage costs, stating: “High inflation put pressure on wages and we have reviewed our pay structure to be even more competitive in the labour market.”

The group has also placed a greater focus on training by forming a dedicated learning and development team as the “recruitment and retention of talented staff is a key priority”.

The number of administrative employees increased from 21 in 2022 to 30 in 2023, with retail staff also rising from 289 to 388.

Although turnover jumped from £21.1m to £27.8m in 2023, profit before tax fell from £5.9m to £769,671.

The group has a revolving credit facility with HSBC in case of “future funding requirements”, with growth set to focus on the “considered expansion of trading site in the UK and internationally”, as well as wholesale and licensing partnerships.

Ottolenghi will be opening its eighth restaurant and fifth Ottolenghi deli in London’s Hampstead later this month.