itsu

Itsu is a British chain of East Asian-inspired fast food shops and restaurants and a grocery company.[3]

Itsu
TypePrivate
IndustryFast casual restaurant
Founded1997
FounderJulian Metcalfe
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Number of locations
77[1]
Key people
Clive Schlee
ProductsFood
Number of employees
852 (2020)[2]
Websitewww.itsu.com

History

The chain was founded by Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of sandwich chain Pret a Manger, in partnership with Clive Schlee.[4] The first Itsu store opened in Chelsea, London in 1997. As of 2022, Itsu has 76 stores in England, including 54 in London, and one abroad, located in Brussels Airport.[5]

Outlets and expansion
Itsu, Commercial Street, Leeds

In April 2013, Itsu announced plans to open 20 more stores in London over the next three years.[6] By September 2013, Itsu opened its first shop outside London, in Oxford.[7]

In January 2016, Itsu expanded into Northern England, choosing Spinningfields in central Manchester as the site for its first Northern store.[8] The chain later opened a branch in Leeds.

In June 2018, The restaurant opened a branch in New York City's Midtown.[9]

Itsu [grocery]

In March 2012, Metcalfe's Food Company, run by Robert Jakobi, launched the Itsu brand into retail[10] under the name Itsu [grocery].

Partnerships

In January 2014, Itsu became the official partner of the Volleyball England Beach Tour.[11]

References
  1. "itsu story". itsu. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  2. "Annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2020" (PDF). Companies House. itsu Limited. 4 March 2022. p. 34. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  3. Moules, Jonathan. "Itsu founder nurtures a new generation", Financial Times, London, 21 January 2014. Retrieved on 21 January 2014.
  4. Smithers, Rebecca (8 October 2010). "Pret A Manger chief is stacking up healthy profits in lean times". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  5. "itsu locations". itsu. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  6. "Itsu to Open 20 More London Outlets". Evening Standard. London. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  7. "£1m Itsu restaurant to open in Oxford". Oxford Mail. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  8. Shelina Begum (10 December 2015). "Itsu picks Spinningfields for Manchester opening". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  9. Dai, Serena (4 June 2018). "Pret Founder's Asian Grab-and-Go Chain Itsu Just Dropped Into Midtown". Eater. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  10. Vince Bamford, "Itsu to target retailers with new Asian snacks" The Grocer, June 2011
  11. Charlotte Edwardes, "Mr Itsu: Julian Metcalfe on beautiful lean cuisine, why he loves London's hard-working immigrants and his noisy troupe of children and steps, "London Evening Standard", 3 February 2014


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