Popular, established cafe (A3) for sale

Description

Please quote reference B05951

Hilton Smythe are delighted to present to the market Ribizli café in Wallingford to the open market, the successful and pioneering food led business is now being offered for sale due to a different business venture our clients are now developing.

This cafe is a local success with outstanding reputation (top-rated on TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook), the perfect opportunity to take on an established and already profitable venture. We are advised there will be a full business handover to ensure all processes, recipes, training and service levels are transferred to any new buyer.

Ribizli (pronounced rib-is-lee) was established in 2016, the name comes from the Hungarian for currants. The founder was inspired by her grandmothers approach to gardening and following the seasons to the plate, aiming to bring freshness and the same passionate way of cooking & baking to her own business. The client is currently running the business as plant-based, though more than 9/10 customers choose it for reasons of quality and taste, rather than being plant-based.

The business has consistently developed and grown which included the addition of its own on-site micobakery in 2019.

The menu currently includes –

• Lunch bowls, both hot and cold – Tasty, varied combinations of textures and flavours, fully plant-based, nutritious and filling. Examples include the 'Inca', 'Watermelon Poke', 'Masoor Daal' and Moroccan style tagine.
• Wider eat-in Lunch options – often featuring the Organic Sourdough breads made on site – such as Sicilian Aubergine Caponata or Roasted Vegetable medley.
• Popular freshly-made seasonal Soups – such as Roasted Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato & Carrot or Potato, Leek, Broccoli & herbs.
• Cakes made on site with no gluten containing ingredients - favourites include Anzac Cookies, Panforte, Double-layer Brownie and the Pear, Hazelnut, Choc-chip & Banana cake.
• Healthy smoothies including active ingredients, such as the Golden Sunshine with Turmeric and Ginger roots.
• Immunity shots – cold-pressed to preserve maximum nutrition.
• Hot drinks – fresh organic coffees & wide selection of loose-leaf teas.

The menu is available to both enjoy inside or have prepared to takeaway.

Throughout the COVID closed period, our client offered a takeaway service from its shop window together with on-line ordering which proved to be very successful.

We are advised our client also added specific themed food menu evenings where pre-paid tickets (£35 per head average) for a set tasting evening menu. On average, 1 event per month been organised for up to 30 diners.

The café attracts a more health focused customer with many local residents, visitors and tourists enjoying the new menu options not available in any other food led business available in Wallingford. The unique offer also attracts customers from a wider radius including Oxford, Reading, Henley and Didcot.

Key selling points include –

• Un-rivalled customer feedback, reputation for excellent quality and service.
• Plant based food, cakes and drinks made from scratch, using mainly organic ingredients.
• Attractive historic setting with flexible spaces for multiple uses
• Ethical approach showing compassion for both the local & global community & animal welfare (Returnable/Compostable packaging; Food waste to local farm; Eco-friendly cleaning products; Locally sourced seasonal veg, herbs and drinks)
• In-house bakery (independently run) – producing organic sourdough breads and baked goods daily

Our client admits, little advertising or social media push has been used and the successful growth has resulted largely through word of mouth.

We would advise any new owner to look at any of the following areas to significantly increase current turnover levels –

• Extend opening hours – currently operating on a limited opening schedule. There is demand for more early morning hours for commuters/school runs etc. as well as later afternoon menu options.
• Evening dining – increasing the number of Pop-up events, adding an alcohol licence, menu with wine pairing
• Adding a market stall for outside food events
• Offering a full outside catering menu/service
• Adding a full local delivery service
• Adding an on-line shopping facility to the website (successfully trialled during lockdown)
• Creating a franchise side to allow further sites to be opened

It is very rare for ethical business opportunities with so much potential to come on to the open market and we therefore strongly advise early enquiry to avoid disappointment.

Tenure

Leasehold

We are advised the business is being sold as a Leasehold with a 10 year lease in place with 5.5. years remaining paying a rent of just £12,000 per year.

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Hours

Current opening hours –

Tuesday – Saturday – 10am to 2pm

Sunday/Monday – Closed

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Staff

The business is run and managed by our client full time with some part time help from her partner as well as 2-3 further part time members of the team.

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Financial Profile

As of the April 2020 Profit & Loss report, the busines generated a Turnover of £111,667. Further figures are available upon request. 

Please quote reference B05951