Michael Guthrie and Stephen Evans hope to be on a shortlist of buyers for Whitbread's under-performing Pelican Restaurants.
Guthrie, the founder of Pizzaland and Bella Pasta, who sold his company Bright Reasons to Whitbread in 1996 for £46m, wants to get his hands on the 154 Bella Pasta and Café Rouge outlets that make up the Pelican portfolio.
Evans, who previously ran Bella Pasta and left Brannigans where he was chief executive earlier this year, is thought to be working with Andersen on a bid. Private-equity groups are also said to be among those interested in the restaurants which could go for up to £100m.
The sale will leave Whitbread to focus on hotels and fitness clubs although it will still continue to own other restaurants, such as Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and the Costa coffee bar chain.
Guthrie, the founder of Pizzaland and Bella Pasta, who sold his company Bright Reasons to Whitbread in 1996 for £46m, wants to get his hands on the 154 Bella Pasta and Café Rouge outlets that make up the Pelican portfolio.
Evans, who previously ran Bella Pasta and left Brannigans where he was chief executive earlier this year, is thought to be working with Andersen on a bid. Private-equity groups are also said to be among those interested in the restaurants which could go for up to £100m.
The sale will leave Whitbread to focus on hotels and fitness clubs although it will still continue to own other restaurants, such as Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and the Costa coffee bar chain.
