Mission Mars secures £10m investment to expand
The operator, which runs ten sites under brands including Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza and Bavarian-style beer hall Albert’s Schloss, has been backed by the Business Growth Fund (BGF).
Mission Mars was launched in 2015 by Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod, the founders of the Revolution bar chain.
The team plans to use the investment to take Albert’s Schloss to other major cities in the UK, and begin a roll-out of Rudy’s, starting in the North of England.
The business has appointed Matt Davies, former Tesco and Pets at Home CEO, as non-executive chair to support the expansion.
“Mission Mars has an impressive management team with a proven track record of scaling hospitality brands,” says BGF's Neil Inskip.
“The concepts within the Mission Mars group are innovative, well-delivered and outperforming the market. The team has established a strong foundation to continue this roll-out across the UK and we look forward to supporting the next stage of growth.”
The BGF has previously invested in the growth of Giggling Squid, Barburrito and Filmore & Union.
The Mission Mars funding comes at a time when investors appear to be pulling back from the hospitality sector. Earlier this month serial hospitality entrepeneur Luke Johnson warned that “nine out of ten” private equity groups had “lost interest” in investing in the industry amid tough trading conditions.
