Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group is to buy back the Australian portfolio of Jamie’s Italian restaurants.
The move follows the news that the Keystone Group, which ran the operation, has gone into receivership and put the six-strong group up for sale.
Financial advisors Ferrier Hodgson, which is handling the sale, said Oliver was the preferred bidder and that his return would be the “ideal outcome”.
Oliver said the Australian restaurants - located in Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Parramatta - were among the best performing of his global chain and that he planned to invest further.
“This will be a really exciting moment for me personally, and I know the guys will be ecstatic to be back in-house,” he said.
“It will allow us to invest even more time and money in people and restaurants, celebrate great Aussie produce and be even more creative.”
