Boozey booster could spell bust

One of the secret weapons behind Carphone Warehouse’s success could be under threat since the mobile phone chain’s takeover of Tandy.

Charles Dunstone, Carphone Warehouse managing director and founder, is everybody’s dream boss for at least one reason – he buys his staff free drinks every month in 90-minute “beer bust” sessions on the Friday before pay day.

But with the Tandy acquisition, Dunstone has just added 1,500 employees to his payroll.

Considering the “beer busts” cost him up to 4,000 a time, Dunstone may be forgiven for having to reconsider the future of the morale-boosting exercise.

Ever-mindful of the need to diplomatically integrate the Tandy and Carphone cultures, the managing director still has to decide whether he’ll be shouting “the beers are on me”, or “the stout is off” next payday.

Carphone employees, with their free perk at risk, will be eagerly awaiting the outcome.