Koh Thai Tapas announces expansion plans

11-May-2014 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2021 at 11:49 GMT

The Koh Thai Tapas Group are currently negotiating for more Koh Noi sites

The Thai tapas restaurant group Koh Thai Tapas (KTT) has confirmed it will be launching two new sites of its latest tapas bar and takeaway concept Koh Noi.

KTT launched its Koh Noi (‘tiny island’ in Thai) concept last month; a new model the brand developed with an aim to create an informal Thai tapas bar that could offer a great deal of takeaway trade in residential areas.

The restaurant group has reported that first month sales for the new concept have ‘substantially exceeded expectations’ and it has confirmed two more sites to further test the idea, while negotiating for others as well.

Brand new model

The Koh Noi concept aims to be ‘local and fun’ and bring the same style of service that customers find in a KTT restaurant to their homes, while at the same time adding something slightly different to the KTT brand. The KTT directors wanted to create a brand that was easily to replicate and adapt to a number of different markets, and waited for a long time before launching Koh Noi.

The idea for the Koh Noi outlets is to purchase small sites that first traded as 40 or 50 cover restaurants and convert the kitchens so they are suited to meet a high turnover delivery service. The restaurant space is then turned into a Thai tapas bar where customers can buy cocktails or beers alongside a selection tapas-style dishes.

KTT said: "The customer response to the new concept has been phenomenal, we have not only substantially exceeded expectations; our sales targets are over two months ahead of where we planned to be.

“Since the opening we have been working closely on various issues and problems and have learnt a lot from the concept already. We can now confirm that we plan to roll out these smaller restaurants behind our present expansion plans. We are currently negotiating on four sites for the Koh Noi brand.”

Growth of Thai food

The KTT group is not the only Thai restaurant chain to announce its expansion plans recently. Last week BigHospitality reported on the Thai Leisure Group’s new restaurant Thaikun, which opens in Manchester next month. Thaikun will serve a menu of Bangkok-style street food, a concept which is growing in popularity among consumers in recent months.

Over the past year we have also reported on the Mae-Ping in Wimbledon re-launching as a Thai tapas restaurant, and Rosa’s Thai Café opening its fourth ‘flagship’ venue in London, suggesting a recent trend for Thai food and tapas-style dishes.