Island Poké to ramp up international expansion with 40 sites planned

The Hawaiian-style grab-and-go brand, which is backed by the White Rabbit Fund, is looking to open 40 new locations in the next five years.

In 2020 alone the group plans to open 13 restaurants across Europe, with a site in the Paris set to open in April.

At present Island Poké operates eight UK sites, all of which are in the capital and primarily in central London locations.

As part of its growth plans, the group says it is hoping to eventually expand across the UK.

Island Poké was founded by James Gould-Porter, a former Bonhams auctioneer, back in 2015.

Initially operating as a street food stall, the brand secured the backing of restaurant incubator White Rabbit Fund in 2016 and subsequently went on to open its first bricks and mortar site on Kingly Street in Soho later that year.

It went on to establish locations in Broadgate Circle and Canary Wharf in 2017, and from there added a further five sites to its portfolio in 2018 and 2019.

Island Poké is considered to be one of the trailblazers for bringing Pacific Island-Asian fusion food to the capital, alongside other London-based brands Ahi Poké and Honi Poké, which operate six and four sites respectively.