Abokado, the healthy grab-and-go chain, has returned to the acquisition trail with a new site in Hammersmith, which will see it showcase a refreshed new look.
The brand’s 24th store will open on 16 King Street next month in a former NatWest branch.
It is the first new opening since Blackfriars Road and Greville Street in 2016, and follows the closure of six non-core sites.
The new look will be gradually rolled out across the London estate, with a winter menu with 13 new dishes also set to debut at Hammersmith.
The group said the new opening signalled a return to growth, with “quite significant expansion next year”.
At the same time, Abokado reported financial results for the year ending 31 March 2018 with profits of £726,000, up 24% on last year, site EBITDA increasing to £1.7m, and 6% like for like sales growth in the year to date.
Yvonne Winborn, head of press and PR, said: “We have refreshed the brand in terms of look, which is normal for brand which has been around as long as we have.
“It will still be very recognisable, but different in many ways. It’s fresh young, exciting, bringing things up to date. The image needs to keep up with the times.”
Earlier this year, founder and chief executive Mark Lilley confirmed to MCA that Abokado’s Drury’s Lane store, its first opening, was one of a raft of non-core site closures, the majority of which were offloaded last year.
He said at the time he hoped to take the brand to c27 sites by the mid-2019.
He said: “We have started seeing some decent new sites, at sensible rents. Landlords are finally readjusting to the new supply and demand balance.
“After a period of feeling we’ve been forced to sit on our hands, it’s good to feel like we’re aback in positive momentum and growth.”
