Itsu looks to double its UK portfolio

The Julian Metcalfe-founded group is looking to strengthen its foothold in London, as well as grow its presence in new locations across the country with its ‘temple’ flagship stores, enhancing and expanding its dine-in experiences.

The focus on flagship stores will be centred around 'prominent and thriving city centres, that benefit from high levels of spend and footfall from shoppers, office workers, tourists, students and residents'.

“At itsu, we are focused on making the joy of delicious, health[ier], Asian-inspired food available to everyone across the UK and beyond. We look forward to working with Savills to help us deliver on our plan for growth,” says Itsu property director Kate Thompson. 

Matthew Brown, director in retail at Savills Bristol, added: “We look forward to working with Itsu on its growth strategy as the brand looks to increase its presence across the UK. As the only national property consultancy with retail and leisure teams based across the UK, we are excellently positioned to deliver a plethora of exciting opportunities for Itsu.”

Metcalfe launched Itsu in London’s Chelsea following the success of his Pret a Manger sandwich chain. In 2013 the group opened its first restaurant outside London, in Oxford.

Backed by private equity firm Bridgepoint, Itsu operates a number of international sites and is now also a major player in the retail space.