Tue 30th Apr 2019 - Toby Smith joins Coffeesmiths Collective as chief executive Toby Smith joins Coffeesmiths Collective as chief executive: Toby Smith, who recently stepped down as chief executive of Novus and served as chief executive of Stonegate Pub Company, has joined the fast-growing Coffeesmiths Collective speciality coffee business as chief executive. The business operates more than 130 outlets in the UK including its own bakery and roastery. The company has a flagship brand, the award-winning Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, with coffee shops in the UK and US. During the past six months the business has been strengthening its presence in London and the rest of the UK through a number of acquisitions. Coffeesmith Collective recently took a majority stake in Brighton-based, seven-strong Small Batch Coffee, which was previously backed by sector investor Luke Johnson. During the past few months it has also acquired Baker & Spice, the Patisserie Holdings brand; Bea’s of Bloomsbury; Tap Coffee; mobile coffee brand Café 2 U; and two Bristol-based independent coffee shops. The company has also acquired the Urban Tea Rooms business, which has sites in London’s Kingly Street and St James’s Market. At the same time it has taken stakes in Bristol-based independent coffee roaster Roasted Rituals and Yorkshire-based La Bottega Milanese, which operates two cafes in Leeds plus a wholesale arm. The company has further added to its regional artisan coffee house portfolio by acquiring the Brew & Bake business in Cheltenham. Smith stepped down as chief executive of Novus in January after four years and was replaced by Sharon Badelek, who has been chief financial officer for the past two-and-a-half years.