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Lawrence Wosskow (born 5 July 1963) is a British serial entrepreneur, mainly dealing in the dining and retail sectors.
Lawrence Wosskow | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 5, 1963 |
History
editEarly life
editWosskow attended Silverdale School in Sheffield, leaving in 1981 with 10 O-levels and 2 A-levels. He began working at Marks & Spencer after leaving school.[1]
Career
editWosskow took advantage of catering in shopping centres, forming Out of Town Restaurants Group,[2] the UK's largest shopping center caterer.[3] He also owned Free Spirit,[4] a chain of surf/outdoor retail stores; and the ice cream brands Loseley and Bradwells.
In 2005, Wosskow formed an agreement with Simon Heath to form The People's Restaurant Group, who would buy Little Chef from Permira later in that year.[5][6]
In 2009, he began investing in UK commercial properties, including redeveloping Harrogate’s town centre.[7][8][9]
Wosskow's book, Little Chef, the Heart of the Deal,[10] was released on 28 November 2017.[11]
Today, Wosskow runs a private equity company from the Bahamas, investing in tech businesses globally. Notable tech investments include: PopID, which uses face and palm outside the network to change the way we pay; Square Panda, which is changing the way children learn English throughout India; Pepper HQ, which allows customers to order and pay at the table in restaurants, bringing QuickPay to the market; Tradeshift, which is allowing companies to trade with each other more efficiently, and has joined forces with HSBC to form the world's largest trade bank; Soundtrack Your Brand, which is becoming the Spotify of music for the commercial world; Curve, which combines its customers' credit cards into one smart card; Betr, which is becoming the fastest growing sports betting app; CookUnity, which is changing the face of meals at home; Ubicquia, which is making our cities safer; Infinitio AI, bringing a safer and more secure AI to the market; and Apex AI, bringing movies to life.
Other investments include Fuel Venture Capital; Chris Sacca's Lowercarbon Capital, which invests in technologies that lower emissions, remove carbon, actively cool the planet, and save human, animal, and plant life; Wavemaker Fund; and Holt Xchange, based in Montreal, helping young tech businesses come to fruition.
References
edit- ^ "Lawrence Wosskow: Moto is next on the menu for the new owner of Little". The Independent. 2005-10-21. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Tycoon Lawrence is back at Out of Town". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Gilbert, Helen (6 August 2007). "Former Out of Town owner buys back business". The Caterer. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Lawrence Wosskow: Moto is next on the menu for the new owner of Little". Independent.co.uk. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Grande, Carlos (8 July 2005). "Permira in talks to sell half of Little Chef diners". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Muspratt, Caroline. "Little Chef close to £55m sale". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Harrogate is shopping around for a new look". Yorkshire Life. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Landmark Harrogate buildings sold in £18million deal". www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "ROYAL BATHS Harrogate KEITH SPENCE on spa town's famous baths". 15 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "Star Interview: From ice cream and Little Chef to life in the Bahamas with Sheffield's Lawrence Wosskow". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Wosskow, Lawrence (20 February 2018). Little Chef: The Heart of the Deal. Morgan James Publishing. ISBN 9781683505297.