WHEN summer sunshine makes the city streets feel like Death Valley, Arizona, a warm cup of coffee and a sticky bun in Bewleys somehow loses the appeal it has when the winter wind tunnel along the Liffey is at its arctic worst. Anticipating another heatwave this summer the canny group intends to install air conditioning to improve the ambience for customers.
Fortunately for Bewley's, global warming has yet to after the chilly dampness of the average Irish winter, weather conditions which more that made up for any weakness in summer trade. Campbell Bewley this week moved back into profit, reporting annual profits of £1.6 million which reversed losses of £800,00 in 1994. Turnover grew £4 million to £57 million.
The chairman and chief executive, Patrick Campbell, said that the group's hotel in Westmoreland Street, which opened last August, is showing "very positive" results. Strong cash flow created £3 million for reinvestment, enabling new cafe openings in Ireland and Britain along with improvements in existing outlets. So far this year the level of trade is well ahead of projections with another successful year in prospect.
