The c.70-site group already trades from two restaurants in Dublin and believes there is scope for up to 10 further openings across the country in cities including Cork and Limerick.
Carluccio’s CEO Mark Jones says the brand’s all-day format works ‘particularly well’ in travel locations such as London King’s Cross station and at Heathrow Terminal 5
“There is scope to grow that faster. We believe that is best done with partners that specialise in these environments,” says Jones.
Carluccio’s expects to choose its franchise partners in early 2020.
Partner sites will open under the chain’s ‘Fresca’ format, a £10m redesign scheme which has seen a refresh of menus and interiors in four restaurants in Richmond [pictured above], Canary Wharf, Bluewater Shopping Centre and Heathrow Terminal 5.
It was launched after the chain closed 30 restaurants under a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in 2018.
Jones told BigHospitality last year that Carluccio’s had failed to develop ‘rapidly enough with the market’ and ‘had to evolve’.
The brand joins a growing number of bar and restaurant chains expanding in to travel hubs amid tough trading on the high street, with BrewDog, Spuntino, Shake Shack and Barburrito all launching in airports within the last two years.
