Del'Aziz reveals plans for restaurant number six
Del’Aziz, the Mediterranean restaurant and deli operator, has revealed plans to open its sixth restaurant by September and also wants to develop a London-based central kitchen and bakery.
Shahrock Parvin, the privately owned group’s founder, said he was also looking at launching a new express style restaurant in the City before the end of 2010.
The group is also one of a clutch of operators considering taking a site at Westfield Stratford – following on from its Shepherd’s Bush Westfield terrace restaurant.
Parvin said the company was in the final stages of acquiring a 7,000 sq ft site off Clapham Common that will feature a different style of deli counter, offer new hot sandwiches and a salad bar.
He said: “We should do three sites this year, including the central kitchen and bakery and further in the future I am considering Westfield Stratford for a restaurant as well.”
Volcano impacts restaurant trading
Parvin added that all Del’Aziz sites were trading well, with some exceeding expectations although he admitted that trade had been impacted over Easter following the flight ban in the wake of the Icelandic volcanic ash.
“You could tell that some of our usual customers were just not back in the country,” he said. “Despite this the restaurants are trading well, although I think the economy is still in for another couple of years of hard grind.”
Del’Aziz currently has restaurants at Bankside, Bermondsey, Fulham, Swiss Cottage and Westfield and recently held a children eat free promotion over Easter.
Martyn Leek is news editor for BigHospitality's sister title M&C Report.