2 March, 2017

Rockpool announces shake up

Rockpool Dining Group has announced its official name change and the launch of its new corporate website as it embarks on an exciting chapter of growth and the delivery of innovative new dining experiences.

Announcing the group’s 12-month strategic plan, Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash said the same strong business lineage and excellent restaurant DNA that spanned more than four decades would continue to underscore everything that the newly-integrated group embarked on.

To fulfil the company’s core mission of consistently delivering the very best customer experience across its portfolio of 15 brands and more than 50 restaurants, focus has been split equally across the three dining tiers, or pillars, in which the group already excels: premium, casual / fun casual, and fast casual.

New restaurants will join the fold and others will be repositioned to maximise the strengths of the combined, vertically integrated group, which also includes the rapidly growing Urban Craft Brewing Co, Urban Fine Foods (Rockpool Dining Group’s bespoke artisan kitchen featuring a European bakery and butchery) and the newly named Rockpool Events &
Catering (formerly Urban Events Venues & Catering), led by Neil Perry.

“Combining the collective strengths of two of Australia’s preeminent restaurant groups gives us a broad and impressive portfolio of best-in-class dining and entertainment venues,” Pash said.

“Each of our strategic pillars is guided by a cadre of seasoned professionals from each side of the business. This model of dual custodianship compounds our collective skills and expertise, while the three-pillar structure enables each pier to equally shine and contribute to the overall success of one of the largest and preeminent dining and entertainment groups in the world.”

The 12-month strategic plan includes:

Augmenting the Saké Jr menu with sustainable seafood and an expanded dinner offering: February 2017
Launch of Neil Perry’s New Classics menu additions across all Saké locations: March 2017
Repositioning the first floor of The Alfred, Melbourne as a Rockpool Events space for private hire (replacing The Cut Steakhouse): March 2017
Opening Rosetta Ristorante at Grosvenor Place, Sydney: May 2017
Continuing Burger Project’s growth in city-central and suburban NSW, Victoria and Queensland

Rockpool Chief Brand and Culinary Officer Neil Perry said the next 12 months promised to be busy and invigorating.

“One of the first projects I’m working on is adding some new dishes to the Saké menu,” Perry said. “It’s a timely refresh, and one that will make a great restaurant even greater. We want to ensure all five Saké restaurants are operating at the same super-premium level.

“Our trademark devotion to the finest Australian produce as well as our ethical, sustainable, and community-focused practices will also continue to underscore everything we do as we work tirelessly to raise the bar and make the dining experience evermore memorable for our loyal customers.

“Other notable highlights for the year ahead include Rockpool Dining Group catering The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards event. The group’s interactive blog dubbed The Rockpool Files will also launch mid-year, featuring interviews, recipes, sneak peeks at new restaurants and bars, and business updates.

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