Q & A with Richard Podesta

What are the key things you have learnt through the Sell More, Save More project so far?​

Suppliers will fall over backwards to help you if you stock their products. But I do wonder whether I would have been able to get the same level of support had I not been involved in this campaign.

Have your sales increased?​

Comparing four weeks in February with four weeks in July, turnover has increased by 25 per cent.

In which categories have the key gains come so far?​

Beer sales have gone up 54 per cent, according to Brulines data comparing four weeks in May - when data was first available - with four weeks in July. Doing a regular audit has helped us save a massive 85 per cent of losses that we were previously experiencing.

Which one piece of advice would you pass on to other licensees?​

If it doesn't work today, it won't work tomorrow unless you do something different! We took on a struggling business and by changing the beer, menus, entertainment, spirits and, in particular, pricing we are turning a corner.

What are your hopes for the remainder of the project?​

To continue making changes with the help of the champions. Given the advice of the category champions, what is on your 'to do' list for the near future? I'm shopping around for a new sign to coincide with the front of the bar being painted. I am also planning the autumn and Christmas menus with the help of Brakes. Cellar alterations with the help of Innserve are also important. We need a paint job, to freshen up the furniture inside and to provide more entertainment such as karaoke and quizzes.