By SIMON HENDERY
The Cobb & Co chain - which could be considered the tired, but grand old lady of family restaurant dining - has been given a makeover and a dose of steroids by its new owners.
Queenstown entrepreneur Jim Boult, his wife Karen, and Auckland accountant Roger Pierce bought
the chain from the failed Wilson Neill group in March last year.
The three have spearheaded a revamp of the 16-site franchised chain, established in the 1970s by Lion Breweries.
They now believe they could almost double the number of restaurants in the chain.
"I think the concept [of family dining] is actually coming back," Jim Boult said.
"The Cobb & Co promise is a quality family meal at an acceptable price."
The new owners' investment has involved revamping the menus, re-training and re-uniforming staff, and a return to television advertising.
They have also opened a new-look management-run restaurant in Taupo which they say is turning over 50 per cent more than the chain average.
They planned to have 30 restaurants in the chain in five year's time, with three - in Rotorua, Christchurch and Manukau - due to open within the next year, said Jim Boult.
Boult, a Queenstown developer, also has a controlling interest in Christchurch's Tramway Restaurant and gondola.
Cobb & Co franchise general manager Mark Kendrick said the existing restaurants would be refurbished in line with the new look and feel that the chain was developing.
They would be lighter and brighter - with the emphasis on being family friendly and efficient.
Boult said the company was looking for new franchisees interested in running the planned 15 new restaurants.
It would also consider offering the sites to its 15 existing franchisees.
