Alexander Kolobov biography

He did not work for a single day in a strange restaurant and does not communicate with his colleagues in the workshop. The chocolate network, which he leads, was always the only place of work for Alexander, since he got almost inherited. Alexander told Anna Lyudkovskaya about the family dynasty of the Kolobov and large -scale plans of the Chocolates in his first large interview.

Due to the aggressive policy of the Chocolates Alexander all the time on the trip. The time of the interview had to be cut off immediately after the return of Alexander from Kazan, and a day later Kolobov flew away - to rest - for three days to Paris. The President of the Chocolate Estate chose the place for dinner at the rate of maximum saving of time - the Restaurant "Vesna" on New Arbat.

The fact is that the company's office is located in a neighboring building with a shopping center. However, a full -fledged dinner did not work out: Alexander limited himself to Samy from the tuna and after a hour and a half conversation returned to the office. Alexander is 27 years old. It is not at all like the president of the second in the number of points of the network of coffee houses in Russia: not tall, laconic, says quietly.

Alexander Kolobov does not yet have the determination, punctuality and gloss that many successful businessmen gain over time. During the conversation, it even sometimes seemed to me that he himself was still not used to the idea that that first point on the October "laid the beginning of a large network, and he, Alexander Kolobov, really stands at the helm. Two years ago, the “Chocolate” suddenly began to show teeth, opening more and more new institutions.

Coffee houses began to be present in shopping centers, at different highways of the city. At the end of April, Kolobov’s parents took up the restaurant business. This they created a phenomenal concept of Pancho Willias a few years ago. At the end of the old Arbat, where the Hard Rock Cafe is now located, the walls shuddered from the stormy fun of the Muscovites.

A year and a half ago, the concept was revived already on Yakimanka. By the way, the Moscow point of the World Hard Rock Cafe also belongs to the Kolobov family. Another old institution - Cheserfield of the Cafe now there is Boarchus, at the Atrium - also helped to put together capital for the construction of the Chocolate Network.

Alexander says that specially at the institution of the time of the USSR in the family, no one hunted. Kolobov was lucky: the premises of that old “chocolate” were sold on Oktyabrskaya, where the current peers of Alexander managed to visit the children. The idea to develop a coffee shop only partly belongs to Alexander, because the parents of Grigory and Galina were engaged in business then, but it was he who felt that this format was not enough for Moscow.

There was something to compare the president of the Chocolate: he received higher education in London School of Economics Lse, observing the coffee revolution that changed the restaurant appearance of London five to seven years ago. The apotheosis, of course, was the parish of Starbucks, ”he recalls, noting that Costa remained his favorite concept. Five years ago, in Moscow, the market was almost empty: the coffee culture formed “coffee bin”, a couple of Koff House establishments also worked.

People come, sit, talk and at the same time eat something for a little money, drink coffee. In the city, he never sought to become a restaurateur. Of course, he does not regret that the family predetermined the choice, because he was able to get an education in one of the most prestigious educational institutions of the UK in the restaurant business. Now many children of successful parents are studying at LSE.

Alexander says that he was always interested in the exact sciences, so he studied business mathematics and statistics at LSE, although he dreamed of becoming a locksmith for a nine-year-old child. Alexander spends most of his time in Moscow, here he has a wife and a three -year -old son. Perhaps the smallest Kolobov will ever become a restaurateur, and the President of the Chocolate Party will give his son a business, as his parents once did.

Now, in addition to Alexander, his brother is engaged in restaurants. At one time, the network of coffee houses and restaurants had a single management. We have just finished dividing the business, and now I can really say that the “chocolate” is developing separately. It is more convenient for us, ”Alexander emphasizes. At the same time, he is well aware of the brother’s business during the interview, talking about plans, he said “we” more than once.

The operating department at the Chocolate Stan is responsible for the general director Vlad Lozitsky, a native of the Asian Department of Rosinter Restaurants. Alexander spends a lot of time on the selection of premises, strategic development, including the development of regions. In addition to Vlada, there are no other top managers from famous restaurant holdings, however, the director of some “chocolate” once sculpted hamburgers at McDonald's.

All the first “chocolate” a couple of weeks after the opening became profitable, the room for them was chosen carefully, after a painstaking analysis of potential profit and costs. But in the city, we began to agree to the premises in which coffee houses could be in the minus for six months, ”Kolobov explains.Some time ago, the Chocolate House built a small confectionery workshop to somehow standardize and align the quality of food and desserts.

Previously, as Kolobov admits, it came to the point that even the chefs were cut at their own discretion - who with cubes and who strips. At one time, one of the “chocolate” was responsible for one of the types of desserts, which were then transported to other coffee houses. Now three fuckers are built at once: in St. Petersburg, Kyiv and Moscow. Business management was also lined up.

The company has departments of training, standardization, etc. Kolobov says that it attracts both borrowed and its own funds for the development. All profit and even part of the working capital are allowed to develop. Alexander has extremely ambitious plans: over the next two years, to increase three times, that is, to launch about 40 new points every year. The main competitor of the “chocolate” to this day remains “coffee house”.

Alexander thinks before answering the question: “What is the significant difference between the two networks? More traditional furniture ... But you will not find global differences. Previously, only we had pancakes, but now they were introduced to the menu and “coffee house”. Please note that people with hamburgers are often sitting in the coffee area, ”says Kolobov. At the point on Tverskaya, for example, sushi appeared some time ago.

However, Kolobov notes that he is afraid to erode the menu and at least he intends to refuse land. Five years ago, when the Kolobov family only came up with a concept, the service in the Chocolate was like “coffee bin” and Starbucks: the guest ordered coffee and desserts, took them at the rack and sat down at the table. On the fifth coffee shop, Kolobov was launched into the hall of the waiters and handed out the menu guests.

In March of this year, the coffee shop at Oktyabrskaya refused self -service. As for the menu, Kolobov promises that the Sandwich’s offer will soon increase on the network. At the same time, not triangular British, but French sandwiches from the baguette will dominate. But the sandwiches are, of course, flowers compared to those plans that are ripening in the company of Alexander Kolobov.

By the end of the year, Asian restaurants will open the door to the door with some “chocolate”. Alexander explains that the market pushes them to such a step: many rooms are too large, and I don’t want to refuse them a chocolate, as well as submitted. The Kolobov family has already launched the test project “47 Samurai” a year and a half ago. The basis of the menu will be land, ”says Kolobov.

On the begging comparison with the “coffee haz”, which launched the same model of Asia Cafe, Kolobov replies that he had an idea earlier. In addition, the market will be able to accommodate everything, and the comparison with the “coffee house” does not bother him. The prototype of "47 samurai" was the favorite London concept of Kolobov Wagamama. And no matter how I like this food, sushi and rolls still remain the leaders of sales.

They have already become a national Russian dish! And although Alexander does not tell in which of the two companies the project is being created, it seems that the president of the Chocolate House put the hand to its development. Alexander does not exclude that sometimes Trattoria will be adjacent to the "chocolate". When asked about rumors about negotiations with Burger King, Alexander restrainedly replies that Chocolate Stanger is not the only company that communicates with a hamburger giant.

In cooperation, representatives and “cards crumbs” are interested. Journal release:.