All Wasabi articles
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NewsWasabi retail business delivers ‘exceptional’ growth
The food to go concept, which operates 40 UK stores and 4 in the US, reported turnover of £126.9m for the 52 weeks ended December 2024
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Analysis & InsightThe growth of the third space: How pubs and restaurants can benefit from hybrid working
Coffee shops have traditionally been the go-to place for digital nomads with a desire for caffeine and community, but pubs and restaurants are developing ‘third spaces’ in their venues to capitalise on the number of hybrid workers. MCA takes a deeper look at the trend
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InterviewsWasabi CEO: Growing taxation and regulation risk ‘killing the industry’
Henry Birts has said the growing burden of red tape is stifling the hospitality sector, with recent rises in costs leading to higher prices and inflation
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NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds up this week’s biggest openings stories, featuring Bunga, Urban Pubs & Bars, Wetherspoon, Wingstop, and more
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InterviewsWasabi: ‘We can easily double the estate in a few years’
The c.40-strong business is in like-for-like growth and trading well in a challenging market, with plenty of whitespace remaining in the UK, CEO Henry Birts tells MCA
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Analysis & InsightWasabi brings Omakase to the high street
The new Omakase box is a to-go meal consisting of seven courses, designed to offer customers a tasting menu experience in a convenient format
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InterviewsDong Hyun Kim: ‘A lot of people eat sushi, but the quality has gone down a lot’
The Wasabi founder is keen to avoid going down the well-worn route of high street sushi chains with his new venture Sushinoya – instead focusing on the quality of the fish, the variety on the menu, and the experience for the customer, he tells MCA.
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NewsWasabi founder to debut premium sushi concept Sushinoya
Dong Hyun Kim is set to launch a new high-quality grab-and-go sushi concept, with the first Sushinoya location opening at London’s St Pancras International later this month
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NewsWasabi directors ‘excited by future growth potential’
The sushi and bento brand reported a turnaround year in 2023, with profit after tax of £7.4m, continued strong performance in 2024 and plans to explore franchising
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InterviewsWasabi begins digital transformation journey ahead of nationwide rollout
The 40-strong business has launched a new loyalty scheme as it prepares to build its presence outside London, according to IT director Chris Scarth
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NewsThe tools for omnichannel success
PizzaExpress and Wasabi Sushi & Bento will share their expertise on the tech that can help make sense of data and build loyalty at MCA’s Hostech Conference next month
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Analysis & InsightSummer menus showcase classic dishes reimagined
Whilst PizzaExpress returns to fan favourites for inspiration, Ole & Steen and Busaba embrace a reliable summer staple with strawberries and cream-themed dishes
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NewsWasabi still keen to expand UK restaurant portfolio
The Capdesia-backed business views expansion into more suburban locations as an attractive area for future growth
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NewsFuller’s appoints Sam Bourke to marketing role
The pub and hotels business has appointed Sam Bourke as its new retail marketing director, as it looks to improve the business’ existing brand, digital and in-pub marketing activity.
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NewsWasabi targeting suburban growth as part of portfolio expansion
In accounts just published for the group, Wasabi said its business model had undergone significant changes as a result of the pandemic.
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NewsWasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim steps down
He will remain a minority shareholder and director of Wasabi, but no longer play an executive role at the company
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NewsCapdesia pumped £10.8m into Wasabi last year
Wasabi’s backer Capdesia invested a further £10.8m into the business last year, in order to ensure it could meet its financial obligations and was well placed to invest in future growth post-pandemic.
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Analysis & InsightInvestor view: ‘Huge availability of property’ coming
Investment hunger for food-to-go opportunities will build post-pandemic and focus on category leaders and the strongest operators, MCA’s Food To Go conference has heard.
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Analysis & InsightAnalysis: Clinging to life in the ghost town
London, you may have heard, is a ghost town. In the latest round of borderline dystopian statistics to surface as a result of the pandemic, just 7,000 of the 120,000 workers based in Canary Wharf are back at their desks. And although office workers across the capital may be thrilled to be without the twice daily commuter Hunger Games, for those in hospitality, a few stifling minutes on the Central line is a non-issue if the alternative is unemployment. In the last month alone, city-based to-go brands including Wasabi, Tossed, Pret and most recently Itsu have appointed advisors to assess their options, but whilst, historically, the mention of advisors might ring alarm bells, faced with the current economic climate, it could be time to shed the stigma.