Wagamama
Coverage focuses on the performance, expansion, and brand strategy of the UK’s leading pan-Asian casual dining chain, known for its open kitchens, communal seating, and fast-casual service model. Reporting includes new site openings, delivery and click-and-collect rollouts, vegan and seasonal menu innovation, tech-enabled ordering, and group-level developments under parent company The Restaurant Group. Insight is designed for operators tracking high-volume branded dining, consumer health trends, and competitive movement across the mid-market segment.
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Jul- 2025 -24 JulyRestaurants
Seaco acquires Busaba out of administration
Busaba has been sold in a pre-pack administration deal to Seaco Investments, safeguarding around 240 jobs across its seven remaining sites. News comes after the Thai restaurant group entered administration on 16 July, with Neil Bennett and Alex Cadwallader of law firm Leonard Curtis appointed joint administrators. The sale to…
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Jun- 2025 -13 JuneRestaurants
Wagamama launches its ‘biggest’ marketing campaign in history
Wagamama has launched the biggest marketing campaign in its 33-year history, unveiling a new brand platform and menu aimed at emphasising “the emotional and cultural role of food in modern life”. The campaign, called ‘Food is Life’, is said to mark a shift in the restaurant chain’s strategy to focus…
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May- 2025 -30 MayRestaurants
Wagamama to open at Animate Preston
Asian-inspired Japanese restaurant Wagamama is to open its doors at Preston’s newly launched £45m Animate leisure scheme, which has been delivered by Maple Grove Developments. Positioned between Taco Bell and Mad Giant Food Hall, Wagamama has taken a 4,125 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease. The fit out is…
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23 MayPeople
Thomas Heier steps down as Wagamama CEO
Wagamama boss Thomas Heier has decided to step down from his role as CEO after eight years to pursue other opportunities. Heier joined Wagamama in 2017 as people director before taking over as CEO in 2021, playing an instrumental role in leading the business through the numerous sector challenges over…
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20 MayRestaurants
TRG in advanced talks to acquire number of Oakman sites
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) is in advanced discussions with Oakman to acquire a certain chunk of its privately held assets, according to Sky News. One of the insiders revealed to Sky that TRG, which is backed by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, was expected to acquire between…
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Apr- 2025 -8 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 08/04/25
Camerons Brewery has reported a 17.95% rise in EBITDA in FY24 amid debt reduction in the year ended 5 January 2025. The group managed to cut its debt by £10.8m to £15.5m as of 23 December 2023, and as a result, now carries much less relative to what it earns.…
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8 AprilApps & Technology
Deliveroo integrates Wagamama’s loyalty programme in-app
Deliveroo has integrated Wagamama’s loyalty programme ‘soul club’, marking the first restaurant loyalty programme to be available on the app. Soul club is a unique platform where members can redeem free menu items and exclusive content such as a constantly evolving stream of recipe and foodie videos. From now on…
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Mar- 2025 -3 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 03/03/25
Drinks sales across managed venues rose 4% in the week to Saturday 22 February, marking only the second week of growth in 2025 so far. Trading beat the levels of last year on six of the seven days, and was ahead by between 8% and 11% every day between 17…
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3 MarchPeople
Wagamama appoints new chief marketing and commercial officer
Wagamama has announced the appointment of Emma Culquhoun as its new chief marketing and commercial officer in April to support the brand’s next level of growth in the UK and beyond. Culquhoun will be responsible for overseeing Wagamama’s proposition, marketing, commercial and growth strategy, including the brand’s recently launched loyalty…
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Feb- 2025 -12 FebruaryFeatures
Why are American brands taking over the UK QSR market?
The British QSR market has seen an influx of American fast food brands coming into the UK and rapidly expanding. According to data from various sources there are over 6,500 American QSR sites in the UK. This can be best seen in the recent announcement from Popeyes that it is…
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