Number of locations 60+ (January 2016) | ||
Key people Julian Metcalfe and Clive Schlee, co-foundersRobert Jakobi, Managing Director (Metcalfe’s Food Company) Founded 1997, London, United Kingdom Founders | ||
Itsu modern japanese restaurant
Itsu is a British chain of Asian-inspired fast food shops and restaurants, and a grocery company.
Contents
The chain was founded by Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of sandwich chain Pret a Manger and founder of Metcalfe's Food Company, in partnership with Clive Schlee. The first Itsu store opened in Chelsea, London in 1997. By October 2015, the number of shops in Notting Hill and Chelsea had grown to 50, with two restaurants in the area.
Itsu has reported financial data as follows:
Itsu received international coverage in November 2006 when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in one of their restaurants. The Russian FSB secret service agent was poisoned with the radioactive element polonium before eating at Itsu's Piccadilly branch.
Outlets & Expansion
In April 2013, Itsu announced plans to open 20 more stores in London over the next three years. By September 2013, Itsu opened its first shop outside London, in Oxford.
In July 2014, Itsu launched its 50th store, in Richmond, London. It announced intentions to open 30 more stores in the next few years.
In January 2016, Itsu expanded into Northern England, choosing Spinningfields in central Manchester as the site for its first Northern store. The chain later opened a branch in Leeds.
US Launch
In August 2014, Julian Metcalfe confirmed his plans to launch Itsu restaurants and grocery stores in New York by early 2016.
Itsu Grocery
In March 2012, Metcalfe's Food Company, run by Robert Jakobi, launched the Itsu brand into retail under the name Itsu [grocery]. As of September 2013, the brand was worth £12 million. By the next month, Itsu groceries were selling 16 different products, including soups and noodles (including miso soup cups and noodle pots); snacks (including chocolate-covered edamame and rice cakes); sauces (including hoisin and teriyaki variants); and drinks.
The Itsu [grocery] products are sold throughout the UK in places like Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, and Whole Foods Market. They can also be bought online.
Partnerships
In January 2014, Itsu became the Official Partner of the Volleyball England Beach Tour.