Wagamama ploughs on with UK expansion under new chief executive

The new sites are situated in Ealing Broadway Centre (5,300 sq ft), Telford Southwater (3,500 sq ft), Fulham Broadway Centre (2,800 sq ft) and Southampton West Quay (3,500 sq ft). They will take the chain's total number of outlets in the UK to 85.

Easterbrook, who has taken the helm after spending less than a year as chief executive at Pizza Express, was appointed as Wagamama announced a period of ‘significant expansion’, with a further 15-20 UK sites planned over the next year.

“Wagamama is a great business with huge potential both here in the UK and further afield,” said Easterbrook upon his appointment. “I am looking forward to working with the team, Duke Street and Hutton Collins in realising the full potential of this exciting and formidable brand.”

Following its takeover by Duke Street Capital in March 2011 for around £215m, the group announced plans to ramp up its expansion within the UK to 300 sites at a rate of 20 per year, focusing mainly on London and the South East.

More recently, it has mounted a major challenge against Yo! Sushi’s status as the UK’s only national branded sushi operator, after deciding to serve sushi in all of its restaurants.

Leading locations

Commenting on the latest openings, Wagamama’s property director Sharon Cawthorne said: “We continue to work with Cushman & Wakefield (Wagamama’s property agents) and our owners at Duke Street to roll out the brand across some of the leading locations across the UK.

“Our new openings are trading fantastically well and we are expanding whilst also maintaining our position as an award-winning global restaurant chain.”

Thomas Rose, Associate in the Cushman & Wakefield leisure & restaurant team, added: “We are looking forward to acquiring more units for Wagamama, particularly in the South East where the restaurant market remains very strong.”

The noodle chain also operates three sites in the US along with a further 35 restaurants managed under franchise globally.

Wagamama  is currently hiring a number of jobs on our sister site BigHospitality Jobs, ranging from front-of-house managers to sous chefs. Click here to view all of Wagamama's job listings.