Insider Media Limited

A Birmingham-headquartered café chain has told Insider it plans to create up to 400 jobs over the next year as it continues its rapid expansion. Paul May, chief executive of Patisserie Valerie, said the company would target strategic acquisitions on the back of its appearance in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 list.

May said the £42m-turnover company was looking to recruit between 350 and 400 jobs over the next 12 months, many of them based in Birmingham.

"We'll be expanding our head office, and are rapidly running out of space at our current premises," he said. "We're looking for a bigger site in Birmingham city centre to move into. There's also a plan to open the first café in the city in the next few months, and we hope to have two here by the end of next year."

Patisserie Valerie was named the 52nd fastest-growing private company in the UK by the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 chart last week (4 December).

After recording 50 per cent growth in the last 12 months, May said the company would open another 18 cafés in its next financial year.

Having undergone a £6m management buyout five years ago backed by Risk Capital Partners, the company bought the Druckers chain in 2007 and Baker Spice the year after.

May revealed that he was currently in talks to acquire another bakery, and said targeted acquisitions were part of his strategy to grow the company.

Patisserie Valerie currently operates 83 cafes, three of which are based in the Middle East.

"We're very keen to take the company to a bigger international level; the partner we're working with in the Middle East is very pro-active and keen to expand, so that's why we've opened up a few outlets there at such an early stage," explained May.

He said the US, Far East and India were his next international targets.

"I think we've got a very good brand with a deep heritage which can work on a global scale," he said. "We're a well-known brand in the UK; there's no reason why that couldn't work on an international level."