Itsu to open 100 new stores after securing investment deal

Itsu, an Asian-inspired restaurant chain, has announced plans to create 100 new venues across the UK as part of its partnership with private equity firm, Bridgepoint. 

Founder of Itsu, Julian Metcalfe, said the new partnership “secures tremendous growth” for the restaurant group – which is recovering from the impact of lockdown. 

Metcalfe, who also founded Pret-a-Manger, previously worked with Bridgepoint between 2008-2018 to help expand the UK coffee chain. 

Itsu confirmed that Bridgepoint signed a deal for them to take a meaningful minority stake in the group. 

It comes as Itsu is currently building new restaurants in Reading, St Albans, Holborn as well as Belgium and plans to roll out its digital kiosks across all sites to “complement its sushi robots and customer loyalty app”.

Metcalfe said: “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Bridgepoint again after our success together at Pret a Manger during the dynamic 2008-2018 era.

“We’ve spent months in lockdown working with them to ensure itsu will be well-funded for long-term growth. Never before has enjoying healthy, nutritious food been so uppermost in customers minds. This is what itsu does beautifully for about £7 per head.”