Itsu
| Type | Private[1] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants and Supermarkets |
| Founded | London, England (1997) |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Key people |
Julian Metcalfe, Founder Gerard Loughran, Managing Director Robert Jakobi, Managing Director (Metcalfe’s Food Company) |
| Products | Food |
| Website | http://www.itsu.com http://www.itsugrocery.com |
Intro and History
itsu, previously Tsu, is a chain of healthy Asian-inspired fast food shops and restaurants, and a young grocery company.[2] The first itsu opened in Chelsea in 1997. As of October 2013, there were 40 shops in total (three of which, Cabot Place, Chancery Lane and Upper Regent Street, offer a delivery service), and two restaurants in Notting Hill and Chelsea.[3]
itsu attracts over nine million customers per year, who spend around £55 million in the shops and restaurants [3] and has reported sales increases of 30% year on year.[4]
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.[5]
itsu received international coverage in November 2006 when it was a location in the Alexander Litvinenko poisoning affair. The Russian FSB secret service agent was poisoned with the radioactive element polonium before going on to eat at the Piccadilly branch of Itsu.
Outlets and New Store Openings
itsu opened three new shops in 2012, in Chancery Lane, Bankside and Old Broadstreet, with a further store in New Oxford Street opening in February 2013.[6]
In April 2013, it was announced that itsu have plans to open a further 20 stores in London over the next three years. itsu's sales have increased despite the tough economic climate with the company reporting sales up 30% year on year.[4]
In September 2013 itsu opened its first shop outside of London in Oxford.[7]
In a Sunday Telegraph article, Julian Metcalfe, talking about the national roll of itsu, was quoted as saying that “We have enough money for 30 more stores at the moment. The 30 will keep us busy for a bit”.[5]
Menu
itsu began selling predominantly sushi but the menu has grown to include a wide selection of salads and healthy snacks, plus a comprehensive hot food offering. There are 63 different dishes available and the menu can be broken down into nine categories: sides and smalls, on a bed and low carb, sandwich & salads, hot potsus, sushi, fruit & other desserts, fro-go, snacks and drinks. Since 2013, the company has run a special offer across its entire estate where for half an hour before closing, every night, all sushi boxes, salads, and sandwiches are half price.[8]
itsu [grocery]
In March 2012 Metcalfe's Food Company, run by Robert Jakobi, launched the itsu brand into retail [9] under the name "itsu grocery". As of September 2013 the brand was worth £12 million.[5]
As of October 2013 there were 16 different products in the range that can be broken down into four categories: soups and noodles (including miso soup cups and noodle pots), bitesize (including chocolate covered edamame and rice cakes), sauces (including hoisin and teriyaki variants) and drinks.[10]
The itsu [grocery] products are stocked in itsu shops, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Whole Foods amongst others across the UK and can also be bought online from www.itsugrocery.com.[2]
Metcalfe's Food Company also makes pre-bagged popcorn under the brand Metcalfe's Skinny Topcorn[9] with five flavours of popcorn available in retailers including itsu.
References
- ↑ wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk Details of the Itsu incorporation and current head office can be found at Companies House.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Moules, Jonathan. "Itsu founder nurtures a new generation", The Financial Times, London, 21 January 2014. Retrieved on 21 January 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sunday Interview: Pret A Manger founder Julian Metcalfe". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Itsu to Open 20 More London Outlets". The London Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Pret A Manger chief is stacking up healthy profits in lean times". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ "itsu - locations - itsu shops". M2.itsu.com. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ↑ "£1m Itsu restaurant to open in Oxford". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ↑ "itsu – ½ Price 30 Minutes Before Closing". Guess How Much This Cost. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bamford, Vince. "itsu to target retailers with new asian snacks". The Grocer. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ↑ http://www.itsugrocery.com/collections. Missing or empty
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