Rossopomodoro, the Italian restaurant chain backed by Change Capital Partners (CCP), has launched an events arm and said it was currently working on strengthening its pipeline of openings in the UK.

The seven-strong group, which is led in the UK by Handley Amos, just took part in the Taste of London festival and is now looking to branch out into other events and catering opportunities.

The company will be on site at what will be eighth opening in the UK in Swiss Cottage in December, for an opening in early 2014.

Amos told M&C Report that the company was currently close to securing a number of new sites for openings in 2014.

It opened its seventh site at the Southside development in Wandsworth on 1 April.

The company announced it plan to invest £4min opening new sites in UK and a redesign of its image last year.