Sun 20th Jun 2021 - Itsu set to open 100 new UK sites and create 2,000 jobs after Bridgepoint deal Itsu set to open 100 new UK sites and create 2,000 jobs after Bridgepoint deal: Itsu, the healthy Asian food chain created by Julian Metcalfe, has signed a significant deal with international alternative asset group, Bridgepoint. In response to increasing demand for healthier eating, the new partnership between Itsu and Bridgepoint secures tremendous growth for the restaurant group, including 100 new outlets, creating 2,000 jobs in the UK alone within the next five years. Metcalfe said: “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Bridgepoint again after our success together at Pret A Manger during the dynamic 2008-2018 era. We’ve spent months in lockdown working with it to ensure Itsu will be well-funded for long-term growth. Never before has enjoying healthy, nutritious food been so uppermost in customers minds. This is what Itsu does beautifully for about £7 per head.” Metcalfe confirmed Bridgepoint has just signed a deal for it to take a meaningful minority stake in the group, as well as providing substantial investment to open up to 100 new sites. These new sites are in addition to the deal Itsu has recently done with Pizza Hut and other major franchise operators in the UK, France, and Belgium. Meanwhile, Itsu [grocery] is enjoying 70% growth in sales of its Asian-inspired foods across the UK supermarkets and health food shops. Total sales for the group in 2022 are forecast to be well in excess of £170m. Regarding the pandemic, Metcalfe said: “Our teams have been so incredibly brave, determined and positive; meanwhile our customers have been patient and amazingly loyal; we are slowly getting back to pre-pandemic customer visits. Outside London, we are already busier than before. It is so evident that customers value nutritious, fresh food more than ever. Very shortly we hope to reopen the remaining centrally located stores that have been closed since last September. The pandemic has caused chaos and so much suffering in our industry on top of the looming challenge of a severe shortage of young European chefs and huge food inflation. The truth is, despite these difficulties Itsu’s modern menu is keeping us busy and buoyant. It’s an unexpected and very exciting time for us.” Benoit Alteirac, partner at Bridgepoint, said: “We see a global opportunity for Itsu. Its standout offer is an exciting and contemporary attitude to healthy and nutritious food with almost 40% of it being plant-based. Itsu combines affordable, convenient, and fresh food with an outstanding operational model coupled with deep-rooted brand values. We recognise their time is now and their ambition, goals and purpose are so relevant in this post pandemic era.” Itsu is currently building new restaurants in Reading, St Albans, Holborn as well as Belgium and plans to roll out its digital kiosks across all sites to complement its sushi robots and customer loyalty app.