Big Table Group appoints new Banana Tree managing director
Wilton will take up her new role at the end of January
UK hospitality group The Big Table Group has appointed Kate Wilton as Banana Tree’s new managing director.
The news comes after Anne Chow, current managing director, announced that she is stepping down from her role after 28 years with the business.
Wilton will take up her new role at the end of January. She brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality sector, most recently leading the Slug and Lettuce brand at Stonegate Group, and prior to that holding senior operations roles at Spirit Pub Company and Whitbread.
Meanwhile, Anne Chow has been involved in Banana Tree from the very start when William Chow opened the first site in Maida Vale.
The Chow’s successfully grew the brand to nine sites in and around London before Big Table Group acquired the business in September 2022.
Since then, she has led the growth of the brand to 18 sites in just over a year, with two more launches planned in Q1 2024.
She will remain in an advisory capacity to the Big Table Group’s executive team on continued roll out plans for Banana Tree.
Banana Tree was acquired by the Big Table Group in September 2022, as part of the group’s strategy to acquire “high-quality, complementary brands with widespread consumer appeal”. Nine new Banana Tree sites launched in 2023, in “high footfall” locations across London, the South East, Birmingham and Bath.
In September 2023, the Big Table Group further added to its portfolio with the acquisition of The Restaurant Group’s Leisure Division, which includes the brands Frankie and Benny’s, Chiquito, Firejacks, Coast To Coast, Filling Station and EST, taking The Big Table Group to over 230 restaurants across the UK.
Additionally, in February 2024, the brand will open its first restaurant in the North West, in Salford Quays.
Alan Morgan, CEO of Big Table Group, said: “I’d like to thank Anne for an incredible journey with us. Whilst I am very sad to lose her from our executive team, I understand entirely that she has decided to take some time to herself after 28 years with Banana Tree.
“Her work overseeing the growth of the business in the last year is an amazing achievement, especially as it was done while integrating the business into the Group at the same time. I genuinely don’t believe this could have been achieved without Anne’s leadership, passion and determination to continue the Banana Tree success story.”
