Eataly, the Italian food emporia and restaurants group led by Mario Batali, is reportedly in talks with the family behind Selfridges about bringing the concept to London.
A spokeswoman for 26-strong group, which is expected to reports a 30% rise in turnover for 2013 to $407m, told the Evening Standard that the group was “looking at a possible opening in London in the 2016 time frame”.
The newspaper said that Selfridges’ Canadian owner Galen Weston and daughter Alannah, who is creative director at the retailer, have been working up plans with property developer Stanhope to expand the department store in Oxford Street.
Oscar Farinetti set up the first Eataly in 2007, in an old vermouth warehouse in the Lingotto district of Turin.
More sites under the format are planned by 2017, across America and in Paris.
Its recent opening in Chicago attracted 80,000 diners in the first week.
It is understood that Seb Howard at CBRE is advising Eataly on its UK launch.
