Itsu
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| Itsu Limited | |
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| Type of Company | Private[1] |
|---|---|
| Founded | London (1997) |
| Headquarters | London |
| Key people | Julian Metcalfe, Founder Clive Schlee, Managing Director Glenn Edwards, Head of Operations |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Products | food |
| Website | Itsu |
Itsu is a small British chain of sushi restaurants and sushi shops. There are currently restaurants at Canary Wharf, Chelsea and Soho. There are a further nine Itsu branches in London, with many providing a delivery service.
The chain was founded by Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of sandwich chain Pret a Manger.
In 2006, Itsu opened a branch in New York City's financial district.[2]
Itsu shot to international notoriety in November 2006 when it became mixed up in the Alexander Litvinenko poisoning affair.
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[edit] Health Protection Agency Warning
The Health Protection Agency is advising any customers who visited the Itsu Piccadilly shop on 1 November 2006 to contact NHS Direct due to the public health issues related to Polonium-210.[3][4]
[edit] Trivia
- The Company name was previously Sushi London Limited.
- The current name, "Itsu" may be derived from the Japanese word, which can be either いつ (When?) or 逸 (to exceed; to surpass).
- Itsu became a well known name across the UK after Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB colonel and former FSB lieutenant-colonel, suddenly fell ill under suspicious circumstances, and subsequently died, after a meeting with Mario Scaramella at the Itsu Piccadilly shop on 1 November 2006.[5]
- The Itsu Piccadilly shop was later closed by police on 24 November 2006 after traces of the radioactive isotope Polonium 210, which is believed to be the cause of Litvinenko's death, were discovered.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Details of the Itsu incorporation and current head office can be found at Companies House.
- ^ "Famous for a London Poisoning, A Sushi Chain Expands Into City", The New York Sun, December 12 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
- ^ Joint press statement released by Itsu and the HPA. Itsu (November 27 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
- ^ Update Statement on the Public Health Issues related to Polonium-210. Health Protection Agency (November 27 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
- ^ Laville, Sandra (November 21 2006). Clinging to life and under armed guard, the spy the Kremlin denies poisoning. The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- ^ Radiation found after spy's death. BBC News. BBC (November 24 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
[edit] External links
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