Crispin Tweddell

The founder of Pitcher & Piano and private equity firm Piper has an enviable track record as an investor in growing consumer businesses. What’s the secret of his success?

- Julian Dodd

An affable old-school to off with a BoJo-esque barnet and dressed-down manner, Crispin Tweddell is about as far away from the stereotypical bloodless, buttoned-up private equity tycoon as you can get.

But don’t let appearances deceive you – despite the non-industry-standard rumpled jacket, faded red chinos and twinkly eyes, he’s a remarkable entrepreneur-investor who founded Pitcher & Piano in the 80s and whose backing helped take fashion brand Boden (from whose catalogue he may well still dress) from sales of £18m to £156m in the noughties. His Piper operation’s current portfolio includes Turtle Bay Caribbean eateries, posh dog food brand Forth glade and gourmet snack biz Proper corn (founded by MT’s 35 Women Under 35er Cassandra Stavrou) to name but three.

Nor is Piper’s HQ to be found in the rarefied financial enclaves of Mayfair or the City as you might expect, but rather in a shabby-chic back street just off boho Notting Hill Gate. Not a great deal cheaper these days, but a world away in terms of atmosphere. ‘We don’t need to be in the City,’ he says. ‘I live about a mile to the north and I have a choice of three buses to get here in the morning. I love it.’

Over the years he’s quietly developed an enviable reputation as the go-to guy for backing restaurants, fashion brands and other consumer businesses with a few years under their belts, looking to grow.

In a world where successful investing – like everything else – is increasingly down to having the right algorithm, Tweddell’s approach is reassuringly low-tech. ‘People in the business know that when they reach the right stage they will probably come and talk to us.