Across the country, the UK restaurant and casual dining market is bouncing back and there is a wide variety of brands offering an extensive and diverse range of cuisine styles, each hoping to establish themselves as a national presence. The Caterer team selects 10 brands to keep an eye on in the coming years
10 brands to watch
BURGER & LOBSTER Burger & Lobster started life in 2011. An off- shoot of Russian-owned steakhouse group Goodman, it opened in Mayfair, London. Run by schoolfriends George Bukhov, Ilya Demi- chev and Mikhail Zelman, there are now six restaurants in London, with one due to open in New York’s Flatiron District in November. The trio were planning a burger restaurant and a separate lobster restaurant concept. They decided to combine the two, importing lobster from Nova Scotia in Canada and Nebraskan beef. The simple format, which allows diners to choose from a burger, lobster or lobster roll, all at the same price, proved an instant hit. The business now generates twice as much turn- over and profit as the Goodman steakhouse brand. Bukhov hopes for more overseas open- ings if the New York site goes to plan, while targeting UK cities like Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham for expansion.
“The best thing about this business is we are able to work with some really great peo- ple, some fun personalities and just enjoy the journey really,” says Bukhov.
Number of sites 6 Owners George Bukhov, Ilya Demichev and Mikhail Zelman Year founded 2011 Turnover £27m (predicted for 2014 calendar year) EBITDA undisclosed Average spend per head £25-27
Restaurant Insight Report | September 2014
CAU Cau is the more casual, accessible little sis- ter of steak restaurant group Gaucho, having been launched in 2011 by Gaucho owners Zeev and Patsy Godik.
Although it is still owned by Gaucho Hold- ings and backed by private equity firm ISG, it is operated as a completely separate busi- ness. Taking its inspiration from Argentine cuisine and South American street food with Mediterranean touches, the business has seven sites, six in the UK and one in Amster- dam in Zeev Godik’s home country. More are planned, with a site in London’s Wimble- don Village set to open in autumn this year and another in Henley-on-Thames also due to open in 2014. Next year could see another nine openings as the company spreads north and opens in Liverpool’s Castle Street. It is also expected to open in Bath and Reading as it strength- ens its presence in the West, having already opened a site in Bristol this summer. “We feel the marketplace is there and we can keep growing,” says director Richard Hall. “There is no reason why this can’t be a 30-40 site business.”
Number of sites 7 Owners Zeev and Patsy Godik Year founded 2011 Turnover £12m (predicted for 2014 calendar year) EBITDA undisclosed
12
COMPTOIR LIBANAIS Still a relatively young brand, having only been founded in 2008, Comptoir Libanais is far from your aver- age fast, casual dining business. The brain- child of Algerian-born founder Tony Kitous, it
offers fresh, colourful, healthy Middle East- ern and Mediterranean food in a relaxed environment. It was awarded the title of best £10 meal in London by Time Out magazine, and has also been named by the BBC as one of the top 10 healthiest restaurants in the UK. With an average unit size of 100-120 seats, the major- ity of the meals the business serves are con- sumed in the restaurants, although around 20% of the business is take-out.
Kitous is convinced there is room for a
Comptoir on every major UK high street and plans to open four to five new sites in 2015, and is targeting growth to 50 sites over the next five to six years.
Number of sites 10 Founder Tony Kitous Managing director Chaker Hanna Year founded 2008 Turnover £12.5m (2013) Average spend per head £10-12 (lunch)
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