Pizza-pasta chain Vapiano takes second UK site
Vapiano, the fast-casual pizza-pasta chain from Germany, has secured its second UK outlet at London’s Bankside development. It has also parted company with its UK development partner, Ian Daly.
The group, which has a presence in 70 locations around the world, is to open next to M&S Simply Food at the corner of Southwark Street and Great Guildford Street.
The unit is on the groundfloor of two buildings occupied by Royal Bank of Scotland and will trade alongside Crussh, Leon, Starbucks and Drake & Morgan’s the Refinery bar.
The Hamburg-based group has applied for planning permission to convert the site from its current A1 retail status and also applied for a premises licence to serve alcohol.
Parting ways
Of the parting of the ways with Vapiano, Daly – a former Compass executive – said the split was very amicable and that it was a matter of differing views over strategy and UK execution of the brand.
He said that he had other projects that he was working on, such as heading the development of the Ping Pong brand in the US.
Daly and Vapiano, which has a presence in America and the Middle East, teamed up to open the first UK outlet on Great Portland Street, just north of Oxford Circus, two years ago.
Vapiano diners are given a card on entering the restaurant that records their purchases at the various serving stations, settling their bill on leaving.
Mark Stretton is editor of BigHospitality's sister title M&C Report.
