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A View from the Top

A View from the Top: The founder of Grind, a crowdfunded coffee chain, on the impact of coronavirus

David Abrahamovitch tells Zlata Rodionova about the value of having loyal customers, especially now

Saturday 11 April 2020 19:05 BST
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It does what it says on the tin: coffee
It does what it says on the tin: coffee

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster both physically and emotionally,” admits David Abrahamovitch, as he reflects on the coronavirus outbreak and the speed at which it affected Grind, his multimillion-pound coffee shop, bar and restaurant business.

Grind, founded in 2011, has expanded from one outlet on London’s Old Street to 11 locations across the capital, including larger venues serving food, espressos and cocktails, and smaller stores in train stations. Today it employs more than 300 people and it achieved annual sales of £9.4m in 2018.

The entrepreneur financed this growth through crowdfunding, with the firm raising £1.3m in 2015, followed by a further £2.1m in 2017 and £3.5m in 2019. This allowed the business to remain flexible and independent but it also enabled Abrahamovitch to create a supportive community, which is particularly important right now.

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