itsu
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| Private Limited | |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | London, England |
|
Key people
|
Julian Metcalfe, Founder Robert Jakobi, Managing Director (Metcalfe’s Food Company) |
| Products | Food |
| Website | http://www.itsu.com http://www.itsugrocery.com |
Itsu is a British chain of Asian-inspired fast food shops and restaurants, and a grocery company.[1]
The chain was founded by Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of sandwich chain Pret a Manger and founder of Metcalfe's Food Company, in partnership with Clive Schlee.[2] The first Itsu store opened in Chelsea, London in 1997. By October 2015, the number of shops in Notting Hill and Chelsea had grown to 50, with two restaurants in the area.[3]
Itsu has reported financial data as follows:
- The chain serves over nine million customers per year
- Customers spend around £55 million in Itsu shops and restaurants,[3]
- Consecutive yearly sales increases of 30%[4]
Itsu received international coverage in November 2006 when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in one of their restaurants. The Russian FSB secret service agent was poisoned with the radioactive element polonium before eating at Itsu's Piccadilly branch.[citation needed]
Contents
Outlets & Expansion
Itsu opened three new shops in 2012 in Chancery Lane, Bankside, and Old Broadstreet. The next year, it opened an additional store at 74 New Oxford Street.[5]
In April 2013, Itsu announced plans to open 20 more stores in London over the next three years.[4]
In September 2013, Itsu opened its first shop outside London, in Oxford.[6]
In July 2014, Itsu launched its 50th store, in Richmond, Surrey.[7] It announced intentions to open 30 more stores in the next few years.[8]
US Launch
In August 2014, Julian Metcalfe confirmed his plans to launch Itsu restaurants and grocery stores in New York by early 2016.[8]
Itsu Grocery
In March 2012, Metcalfe's Food Company, run by Robert Jakobi, launched the Itsu brand into retail[9] under the name Itsu [grocery]. As of September 2013, the brand was worth £12 million.[2] By the next month, Itsu groceries were selling 16 different products, including soups and noodles (including miso soup cups and noodle pots); snacks (including chocolate-covered edamame and rice cakes); sauces (including hoisin and teriyaki variants); and drinks.[10]
The Itsu [grocery] products are sold throughout the UK in places like Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitress, and Whole Foods Market. They can also be bought online.[11]
Partnerships
In January 2014, Itsu became the Official Partner of the Volleyball England Beach Tour.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ Moules, Jonathan. "Itsu founder nurtures a new generation", The Financial Times, London, 21 January 2014. Retrieved on 21 January 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Vicki Owen, “’We’re ahead of America in fast food.’ Pret A Manger founder Julian Metcalfe now looks to conquer the US with itsu”, ‘This is Money”, 09 August 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Richard Vines, “Hold the Mayo! Itsu Healthy Fast-Food Chain Eyes New York City”, “Bloomberg”, 07 August 2014
- ↑ Vince Bamford, "Itsu to target retailers with new Asian snacks" The Grocer, June 2011
- ↑ "Itsu grocery-products", "Itsu grocery"
- ↑ "Itsu grocery-where to buy, "Itsu grocery"
- ↑ Charlotte Edwardes, "Mr Itsu: Julian Metcalfe on beautiful lean cuisine, why he loves London's hard-working immigrants and his noisy troupe of children and steps, "London Evening Standard", 3 February 2014
