itsu is to open 18 prime sites in 2023, in addition to its expansion internationally through select franchise partners, founder Julian Metcalfe has told MCA.
itsu has been achieving record customer numbers and is keen to capitalise on this growth. “In 2022 we broke our record and served 11.2m customers, and in Q4 our regional transactions were up 44%,” Metcalfe said.
The healthy Asian fast-food brand is due to open six equity sites and 12 franchise locations in the UK this year, including Exeter, Liverpool, Birmingham & Glasgow. They are currently also considering new UK franchise partners.
The business has been expanding its franchise operations in the UK through Heart With Smart Group, and last August partnered with McDonald’s former largest UK franchisee Atul Pathak to further its growth in this area.
Of the 18 sites to open, several will open across London, as well as the South West, Merseyside, The Midlands and Scotland as the brand extends its reach across the UK.
The business is also looking to expand overseas with master franchise agreements being sought in Spain, Italy and Germany to complement its French partner Groupe Bertrand, he said.
Groupe Bertrand opened its first itsu site in Paris, in December 2022, and has two more in the pipeline for this year, with itsu targeting 50 franchise sites in France in the next five years.
- Julian Metcalfe will be a headline speaker at MCA’s Food to Go Conference on 7 March at the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. In the on-stage interview, he will discuss itsu’s pioneering healthy, affordable, fast-food and why it is now ready to franchise to a handful of carefully selected partners. To find view the full agenda and to book tickets please visit foodtogoconference.co.uk.
