Ed’s Easy Diner, the fast-growing American-style casual dining chain led by Andrew Guy, has secured its first ever extended bank funding in the form of a £4.5m facility with RBS which will aid its continued rollout across the UK, M&C Report understands.
The group, which is backed by Rankvale Hospitality, currently operates 21 sites under its core brand in the UK and is scheduled to open before the end of the year in Derby and York.
Openings in 2014 are set to include sites in Liverpool, Crawley, Manchester and another in York.
It has opened seven new diners already in 2013, with plans to open twelve new sites next year.
The group also operates seven further units under its Ed’s Shake Stands, Ed’s Shakes ‘N Dogs and Ed’s Outside formats, plus two international sites under the Joe’s Easy Diner name in South Africa.
It is thought to be talking to franchisees about opening more in South Africa and is thought to be eyeing further overseas territories.
The brand, which is in its 27th year, served over one million customers in 2012 and is on track to serve more than 1.5 million this year.
Earlier this year, chairman Stephen Greene told M&C Report: “Over five years we can see another 50 to 60 units [being added]. We’ve got a good pipeline. Even in tough economic times competition for sites is tough.”
