James McAllister - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 24

1 min

Zia Lucia plots international expansion via new franchise model

🍕 London-based Zia Lucia pizzeria, with nine restaurants and a new site in Reading, partners with GNF Worldwide for global franchise expansion. Founders Gianluca D’Angelo and Claudio Vescovo, since 2016, plan a tenth London location in Chelsea and aim for 5-10 UK sites within three years. They offer unique pizzas with four dough options, including gluten-free and charcoal. Their growth strategy targets 100 stores in five years. Related venture Berto focuses on hand-made pasta in Islington.

1 min

Zia Lucia plots international expansion via new franchise model

🍕 London-based Zia Lucia pizzeria, founded in 2016, operates nine restaurants across London and one in Reading. Teaming up with GNF Worldwide, Zia Lucia aims for international expansion and UK growth, planning to open 5-10 sites in three years. A new Chelsea location will mark their tenth in London. Their unique menu offers pizzas on various dough types, including traditional, gluten-free, wholemeal, and charcoal. Founders Gianluca D’Angelo and Claudio Vescovo also run the fresh pasta restaurant Berto. They envisage reaching 100 stores in five years.

1 min

Benugo reports highest turnover in 25-year history

🍕 Benugo, a café and restaurant group, reached a record £10.7m operating profit for the year ending December 27, 2023, a significant rise from £3.7m the previous year. Boasting over 40 locations nationwide, including prestigious venues like the Victoria & Albert Museum and London Zoo, Benugo has focused on exiting underperforming sites and boosting client relationships in 2023. Their success is attributed to staff training investments and strategic business wins, positioning them for continued growth in 2024.

1 min

Benugo reports highest turnover in 25-year history

💰 Benugo, a café and restaurant group, reported a 2023 operating profit of £10.7m, a significant increase from £3.7m in 2022. With over 40 locations nationwide, including prestigious venues like the Victoria & Albert Museum and London Zoo, the company's strategic exits from poor performing locations and focus on training and productivity have led to a stronger financial performance. Benugo is poised to tackle 2024's opportunities and risks with a solid balance sheet and cash position.

1 min

Italian street food brand Dez Amore launches first London restaurant

🍕 Dez Amore, Italian street food brand, launches its first London restaurant, occupying 1,178sq ft on the Sloane Stanley Estate. Founders Leonardo Masi and Simone Parentini offer traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, including pasta, pizza, antipasti, and gourmet burgers. Announced last year, this flagship store marks the brand's expansion beyond food halls, following successes in Camden, Mercato Mayfair, and Boxpark. Miles Commercial and Levy Real Estate represented the estate, while Chiara Ciroldi acted for Dez Amore.

Italian street food brand Dez Amore launches first London restaurant

🍝 Italian street food brand Dez Amore launched its first London restaurant, a 1,178sq ft site on the Sloane Stanley Estate, offering traditional dishes like pasta, pizza, and antipasti with a contemporary twist, including gourmet burgers. The opening follows Dez Amore's success in various London food markets and represents their first location outside a food hall, marking it as their flagship store. The announcement was made last year. Miles Commercial and Levy Real Estate represented the estate; Chiara Ciroldi represented Dez Amore.

2 min

Jack and Beth Bond take ownership of The Cottage in the Wood

🍽 Jack and Beth Bond, as of January this year, took over The Cottage in the Wood, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Cumbria's Whinlatter Forest, from Liam and Kath Berney who retired after 22 years. The establishment, which began as a 17th-century coaching inn, earned its Michelin star in 2019 under Chef Ben Wilkinson and has retained it since. Jack previously worked at Eleven Madison Park and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay; Beth, a physics graduate, worked at Tredwell’s and launched Apricity in 2022.

2 min

Jack and Beth Bond take ownership of The Cottage in the Wood

🍴 Jack and Beth Bond, after joining as head chef and general manager/sommelier in January 2023, have acquired The Cottage in the Wood, a Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms in Cumbria's Whinlatter Forest. They took over from Liam and Kath Berney, who retired after 22 years. The Cottage in the Wood was established in 2002, earned a Michelin star in 2019, and has retained it since. The Bonds are committed to building on the restaurant's sustainability initiatives and its legacy.

“It’s where I feel happiest” – Tom Griffiths returns to the pass after three-year break

🍴 Tom Griffiths, the founder of Flank and Good Birds, is now chef director of The Roof Gardens, a soon-to-launch private members' club in Kensington, London. The venue, a Grade II listed site, was formerly the A-list Kensington Roof Gardens nightclub. Griffiths announced his new role on Instagram after a three-year break from professional cooking. The Roof Gardens is currently under a multi-million-pound refurbishment funded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, owner and Ovo Energy founder, who acquired the 65,000 sq ft site from Virgin Limited Edition in 2021. Launch expected later this summer.

2 min

“It’s where I feel happiest” – Tom Griffiths returns to the pass after three-year break

🍴 Tom Griffiths returns as chef director at The Roof Gardens, a new private members’ club in London's Kensington. Previously the chef founder of Flank and Good Birds, Griffiths announced his comeback on Instagram after a three-year break. The Roof Gardens, located at the Grade II listed site formerly known as Kensington Roof Gardens, is undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment funded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, owner of Ovo Energy. The relaunch is expected later this summer, following Fitzpatrick's acquisition from Virgin Limited Edition in 2021.

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