Jamie Oliver to launch new restaurant chain overseas
The Telegraph reports that the celebrity chef is converting his Jamie’s Italian sites in Bali and Bangkok into Jamie Oliver Kitchen, which will be run by franchisees.
Menus will include dishes such as a soft-shell crab burger with green papaya salad and sriracha mayonnaise; and beef cheek cooked in Indonesian spices.
Jamie Oliver Group chief executive Paul Hunt says the new restaurant chain will show off Jamie Oliver's brand at its best.
“While diners around the world continue to enjoy our established brands including Jamie’s Italian, we wanted to add to our portfolio and create a concept that allows us to really showcase the best of Jamie Oliver, while giving our franchise partners in each market the flexibility to adapt menus to local tastes and trends,” he says.
Oliver's UK restaurant business entered administration in May, leading to the closure 22 high street sites including the entire UK arm of Jamie’s Italian and training restaurant Fifteen London.
However, since then the chef has continued to extend his reach internationally, opening a number of restaurants under franchise including a 200-cover Jamie’s Italian in Bergen, Norway, in September.
“Over the past 20 years, I have travelled around the world to discover exciting flavour combinations, picking up incredible influences along the way,” says Oliver, reflecting on the launch of the new concept.
“The new restaurants will bring those inspirations to life and serve some of my absolute all-time favourites.”
In August it was reported that closer to home Oliver was looking to refocus his UK business around public health campaigning, following the collapse of his restaurant group.
