The hospitality sector has changed forever. The global pandemic has accelerated our digital, online and e-commerce capabilities beyond recognition, creating new revenue streams and allowing regional brands to reach new, bigger and national audiences. 

One such digital pioneer is Rockfish [https://therockfish.co.uk/], the nine strong seafood restaurant group based down in the southwest. In the teeth of lockdown, founder and CEO Mitch Tonks grasped the opportunity to go beyond the immediate need to shore up revenues and totally disrupt the way that Britain buys its seafood. And it’s working. 

Mitch’s passion is palpable and his story of building both the restaurant business and its digital transformation into sustainable, fresh seafood supplier to the nation is inspiring. 

We are joined by John Barnes, Rockfish board member, brand marketer, restaurant entrepreneur, author, industry icon and mentor to many of our leading operators – as we talk digital disruption, building culture and community and the small matter of bringing fresh seafood back to the tables of our island nation. 

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ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Mitch Tonks:

Mitch’s career in seafood spans nearly 30 years from fishmonger to chef, author and restaurateur. He originally founded the award winning FishWorks chain in 2001 and subsequently the seahorse restaurant in Dartmouth and the 9 strong and growing Rockfish seafood restaurants. The business now controls its own supply chain with its own fishing boat, processing facilities which supplies fresh seafood to the restaurants daily as well as launching a Seafood at home service which is set to disrupt the way people in Britain buy their seafood.

John Barnes:

John spent the first 17 years of his working life in large international companies like Procter and Gamble Playtex and Pepsi including periods working in the US and France..

After 4 years as CEO of KFC in the UK in the early 1980’s , John “ altered course” ( the title of his new book ) and with colleagues set up his own company.

In 1988 they bought the one Harry Ramsden’s fish and chip restaurant in Yorkshire..After an IPO in 1989 and 11 years of expansion in the UK and internationally , the company was sold in 1999..

From 2001 until its sale in 2007 , John was Executive Chairman of La Tasca Plc . He has also been a Non Executive Director or Chairman of a number of different small private and public companies in hospitality including Yates, Hardys and Hanson’s, Thwaites, Novus Leisure and Caffè Nero . He has been an NED of Treats ice cream , Chairman of Galaxy Radio 105 and Zoo Digital Plc and on the board of horse race course owner Arena Leisure and Sportech Plc.

He co wrote a book called “Marketing Judo , building your business using brains not budget” with former colleague Richard Richardson and has just co authored another with Laura Cowan of Rockfish called Altering Course, the Covid Chronicles with all proceeds going to the charity Mind.

For 20 years John owned, with his wife Pat, The Orchard Counselling Centre in North Leeds.

He is a former Catey Winner , Peach Icon, and was voted Non Executive Director of the Year in the Peel Hunt/ Sunday Times Awards in 2006.

Married with two children and five grandchildren John describes himself now as a Grandad and Entrepreneur.

He is a Director of and investor in Rockfish , the West Country and Dorset based seafood restaurant and direct to consumer Seafood at Home businesses.

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This series of podcasts is sponsored by Bidfood, Fourth, Stint and Zonal.

The Peach podcast is always free to listen to. To find us search Peach 20/20 The Top Table on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or in any app that supports podcasts! All of our podcasts will be uploaded to our YouTube Channel (https://bit.ly/Peach2020_YT)

Now don't forget to like, rate and subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes!

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LINKS:

Bidfood: www.bidfood.com

Fourth: www.fourth.com

Stint: www.stint.co

Zonal: www.zonal.co.uk

John's Book: Marketing Judo - Building Your Business Using Brains not Budget

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marketing-Judo-Building-Business-Brains/dp/027366316X

Rockfish: www.rockfish.co.uk