Jamie Oliver Group appoints "business transformation partner"
KBS Albion describes itself as helping to “solve business problems and unlock growth”, and has previously worked with the likes of Innocent and Skype.
It says it will collaborate with teams from across the four pillars of Oliver’s group - including his restaurant and food campaigning divisions - to develop a “deeper understanding of their fast-changing customer needs”.
It is also co-designing “new digital products and services to provide deeper links between the group offerings”.
The announcement follows another difficult few days for the chef's empire. Last weekend Oliver was forced to defend his company CEO from accusations in The Times that he knew “nothing about restaurants”.
In January creditors at Oliver’s group approved a CVA that will see 12 of its 37 restaurants close. It comes after Jamie's Italian posted losses of £9.9m in the last financial year.
The chef also shut his Barbecoa barbecue and grill restaurant in Piccadilly 12 months after it opened.
Speaking last month Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group CEO Jon Knight hinted that expanding in to transport hubs could be a key part of its turnaround strategy. He also said Jamie's Italian had become "complacent" and "lost touch" with Oliver's original vision.
“When we met the team at KBS Albion it was immediately clear that they had a huge passion for our business and instantly ‘got’ what it was we’re trying to do next, and we’re already having fun working with them,” says Darren Goldsby, chief digital officer at the Jamie Oliver Group.
