Two more directors step down from Bill's

Restaurant industry veterans Andy Bassadone and Nick Fiddler are believed to have left casual dining chain Bill's.

Documents filed with Companies House detail the termination of Bassadone and Fiddler's directorships at the company.

Duncan Garrood was appointed chief executive of Bill's after the departure of Mark Fox earlier this year, who left due to personal reasons. The group's finance officer Greg Hinchcliffe left the company last month to join Caravan Restaurants.

Restaurant mogul Richard Caring acquired a controlling stake in Bill's Restaurants in 2008 and has since worked with directors Bassadone, Fiddler and Chris Benians to expand the business. Benians and Caring are still listed as directors of the business.

Bill's representatives declined to comment.

Bassadone made his name in the 1990s as managing director of Caring's Caprice Holdings. He was a founding director of Strada along with Chris Benians, a former chef at Caprice Holdings, and Fiddler. They later sold Strada to Caring. The entrepreneurial quartet also launched Côte together in 2007.

Bill's saw an £8m boost in turnover last year but increases in underlying costs for food and labour costs due to increases in the National Minimum Wage and the devaluation of sterling following the EU referendum meant pre-tax profit was £4.8m, down from £7m the previous year.

Bill's was founded as a fresh produce store and café in Lewes, East Sussex, by greengrocer Bill Collison in 2000. There are now more than 80 restaurants across the UK.

Turnover boost at Bill's but cost increases knock profits >>

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