Bagel Nash co-owners set to share their recipe for success

The owners of UK food chain Bagel Nash, Sara and Andy Micklethwaite are set to share their recipe for success to the next generation of entrepreneurs in Yorkshire.

Later this month the duo, who took over the Leeds-born business in 2011 and currently employ 120 people, will be advising Leeds Beckett University students on their strategy of brand development, marketing promotion and product and service excellence.

Bagel Nash currently has 14 branches across Leeds, Manchester, Huddersfield, Hull, York, Derby and Nottingham, and there are ongoing plans to expand further.

Sara and Andy purchased the business Uri and Karen Mizrah, who founded Bagel Nash in 1987 in Leeds.

Sara is an operations professional with a substantial background in property and facilities management in multi-site operations. She has previously worked for the government and at director-level for a major UK property investment company.

Sara, who first collaborated with Andy to buy Bagel Nash in 2011, is the Retail Operations Director responsible for all aspects of store operations including marketing and new site acquisition.

Andy previously worked in finance, has an extensive general management background in retailing and food production, and has worked at director-level for a number of major UK and multinational companies. He has bought and sold a number of companies and is the CEO of Bagel Nash, a non-exec director of Starbrands and a governor of Leeds Trinity University.

Commenting on their lecture at the unviersity on April 21, Sara said: “As a business, we are totally committed to producing only the very best bagel products using 100% natural ingredients. The same principles apply to our retail stores. We are as much concerned about how our products taste and look as we are about their nutritional value and wholesomeness.

“During the lecture we will discuss how we strive for excellence in every aspect of the business and the challenges that presents.”

Paul Houghton, principal lecturer in Leeds Beckett’s Faculty of Business and Law, added: “Sara and Andy have been on an incredible journey with Bagel Nash and have achieved so much since they acquired the business in 2011. It will be fascinating to hear about the changes they implemented from the outset, the progress and great success they have made since then and what their goals and plans are for the future of Bagel Nash.

“The event - ‘The Bagel Nash Story; a new customer and in-store experience’ - will conclude with a chance to ask Sara and Andy questions.”

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