Chopstix acquires Chozen Noodle

Chopstix Group is acquiring all of Chozen’s 27 sites in motorway service areas (MSA), which are principally managed through franchise agreements with Roadchef and Moto, with two additional company-owned sites at Extra MSAs.

Building on Chopstix Group’s already strong presence in MSAs, the acquisition of these Chozen sites takes the group’s presence at MSAs to 53 sites.

Chopstix says the deal is an important step in 'consolidating its position as the largest Asian QSR operator in the UK'.

“We already know from the customer feedback and sales data of our existing MSA sites how well our proposition works in this category of site,” says Jon Lake, managing director of Chopstix Group.

“With more than 6.3 million people visiting motorway service areas every week, this represents an enormous opportunity and an important strategic acquisition for the business.” 

Lake adds that all sites will continue to trade as Chozen for the foreseeable future and the Chopstix Group will work with its franchise partners to determine a longer-term plan for each location.

Established in Camden Market in 2002 by entrepreneurs Sam Elia and Menashe Sadik, the Chopstix Group comprises Chopstix Noodle Bar, Yangtze, and now Chozen. The group’s total number of sites now sits at 127, with 90 venues operating as the Chopstix brand, 27 as Chozen, and 10 as Yangtze. 

The Chopstix Group has existing franchise agreements with MSA operators including Applegreen and Welcome Break. Last year the group launched its first holiday park location in partnership with Haven, and also works with experienced QSR franchisees such as Sparta Foods.

This year the brand plans to roll out further franchise sites at Haven as well as opening a restaurant at Butlin’s Bognor Regis’ brand-new food destination, Skyline Eats.

“Ever since we opened our first franchised site with Applegreen, we’ve known that MSAs presented a huge growth opportunity for us,” says Elia and Sadik.

“With our best-in-class processes, our business is perfectly suited to the franchise model, so we’re excited to be able to work with first rate franchisees like Roadchef and Moto. We’re looking forward to working together to make these new locations even more successful and profitable in the future.”