Mark Patten, Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at The First Group, is a dynamic leader who has made significant strides in the F&B industry. Under his strategic guidance, a portfolio of initially struggling restaurants blossomed into a flourishing collection of 34 establishments.
Mark’s visionary approach extends to maintaining high-quality offerings at accessible prices within a four-star hotel environment. He strongly emphasises cultivating a cohesive, results-oriented team, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that has been instrumental in their achievements. One of the standout accomplishments was the creation of Soluna Beach Club—a purpose-built facility in a landlocked hotel company, showcasing Mark’s innovative thinking and boundary-pushing approach.
A point of pride for Mark is that all concepts and chefs are local, reflecting his confidence in the local talent pool and underscoring the strength of their F&B business, emphasising the commitment to homegrown brands as a cornerstone of their success.
Mark’s impact on revenue growth has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the past three years, the company’s revenue has surged, surpassing a triple-fold increase. Starting at approximately 50 million in 2021, it nearly doubled to 100 million in 2022, projected to reach 150 million in 2023. This surge in revenue has been matched by a significant boost in profitability, demonstrating their adeptness at fortifying the bottom line. A unique aspect of Mark’s approach is charging rent to themselves, even as the owners of the physical assets. This serves as a financial gauge, ensuring a clear understanding of the business’s profitability and reinforcing its commitment to fiscal prudence.
In tandem with financial success, the workforce has grown substantially from 80 staff members two years ago to a robust team of 500 today. From a modest ten establishments at the outset in 2019, they have now expanded to an impressive 34 F&B outlets across eight properties. This expansion is characterised by its organic, holistic nature, free from artificial pressure for rapid growth.
