Wasabi CEO – ‘nanny state policies risk killing Britain’s restaurants’: Henry Birts, chief executive of Wasabi, the sushi and bento brand backed by Capdesia, has warned “nanny state policies risk killing Britain’s restaurant trade”. Birts said the growing burden of red tape is stifling Britain’s hospitality sector and making it harder for companies to survive amid soaring taxes. He told The Telegraph: “We’re at risk of sort of really killing the industry if we continue to regulate and regulate and put the costs up. All of this together is having a collective effect that is just not helpful.” Criticism of government regulation comes after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans to compel large restaurants and fast food brands to cut diners’ calories in an attempt to drive down obesity rates. Businesses have warned that such a move could lumber them with a mountain of bureaucracy and extra costs at a time when margins are already under strain. Birts said: “I’m a big believer that our industry needs to continue to be responsible around health. But I think if the government continues to tax and regulate their way through all of this, there’s a line where it becomes very unhelpful, and we end up shooting ourselves in the foot.” The exact details of what will be asked of restaurants are yet to be revealed. But measures are expected to be similar to those recently announced plans for supermarkets, which will require them to reduce the calories in shoppers’ baskets. Birts said the increase in national insurance rates for employers would amount to a bill reaching “seven figures” for Wasabi. Birts said the 50-strong business – which is opening its first franchise site this month, at Luton airport – was seeing a “healthy” trade despite customers cutting back. He added: “We used to be a five-day-a-week restaurant; now we’re more reliant on the three days in the middle. So we have to be very, very careful. We’re still trading very, very well in some of these restaurants, but I wouldn’t say office workers are flocking back year-on-year.” A government spokesman said: “Our ten year health plan will tackle the obesity crisis and ease pressure on the NHS, working with the largest businesses like supermarkets and restaurants to set a new food standard.”