Wagamama plans 3-5 more delivery kitchens

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

Wagamama eyes 3-5 more delivery kitchens

Related tags Casual dining Wagamama delivery

The Restaurant Group (TRG) is planning to open three to five standalone Wagamama delivery kitchens this year.

The casual dining chain currently operates ‘dark kitchens’ in London's Battersea, Hackney, Peckham and Bow.

TRG’s latest results state it is looking to open delivery hubs in areas “not covered by existing restaurants” and in towns and cities with high demand, including Leeds.

Wagamama operates 144 UK restaurants and five in the US.

Delivery sales, both from restaurants and 'dark kitchens', rose to c.12% of Wagamama’s total sales in 2019, up from 10% the previous year.

TRG says this was driven by “technological improvements” such as Deliveroo tablets and a switch to fully recyclable packaging.

It is planning to install more “bespoke delivery stations” in high volume restaurants to speed up the process.

Wagamama also launched its first grab and go concept Mamago​ in the City of London in November 2019, and says it will evaluate whether to roll out more sites under the brand in six months. 

TRG bought Wagamama for £559m in October 2018​ ​and says in its latest trading update that the deal has been “transformational” for the wider business.

Wagamama sales rose 8.5% in 2019, with adjusted EBITDA growing to £60.7m, up from £44.6m in 2018.

TRG is planning to reduce the size of its struggling leisure​ division, which includes Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito brands, by up to 90 sites, either through closures or conversions to the Wagamama brand. 

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