M&B to expand Harvester breakfast trial

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the managed pub and casual dining operator, is to expand a breakfast trial at its Harvester brand, which has around 176 sites.

Breakfast trials started August last year and are currently running in 15 sites, including a number of retail park sites.

The company is looking to extend to around 40 sites by mid-March. New retail park sites, such as the ones opened at the end of last year in Staines and Bristol, will open for breakfast offer with 7am opening times at some venues.

Breakfast items include Full English breakfast, pancakes and waffles. One of the current Harvesters looking to open for breakfast is the Bells of Ousley in Old Windsor, which has applied to open three hours earlier across the week.

M&B evolved Harvester sites into a more modern format it calls "salad and grill" last year. The company saw strong sales uplifts across the evolved sites.

The updated Harvester format has a menu that offers customers a choice of grilled menu item, plus a sauce and free, unlimited salad bar.

The salad bar was updated with new sauces, accompaniments and new items such as curried potato and bean and pesto salad. Evolved sites have also been given a more modern look with less clutter and the use of more modern slates and wooden surfaces.

M&B managing director, suburban, Amanda Coldrick told M&C Report last year: "The brand is now better placed than ever. The changes have been about evolving the brand without throwing the baby out with the bath water by losing sight of the traditional elements that make Harvester popular."

New retail park sites trade from a smaller square footage than traditional venues.