BOB & Berts, the Northern Irish artisan coffee and food shop, is opening its first Scottish stores as it launches plans to create 400 jobs across the country.
Premises on Falkirk High Street are being fitted out for the firm’s maiden Scottish store, which is due to open at the end of this month, ahead of the opening of outlets in Dunfermline and Stirling.
The brand is planning to open a further 30 stores and create 600 full and part-time jobs over the next four years, with around 20 of the shops and 400 of the jobs to be located in Scotland.
Bob & Berts raised £2 million of capital from BGF in August 2017 to fund its entry into Scotland and further growth in Northern Ireland.
The brand is already well-established in Northern Ireland, with its 18th store opening soon in Magherafelt.
Co-owner Colin McClean said: “We are excited to be bringing our business to Scotland having spent time immersing ourselves in so many different locations and active communities.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here