Wagamama
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder(s) | Alan Yau |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Area served | Global |
| Owner(s) | Duke Street Capital |
| Website | http://www.wagamama.com/ |
Wagamama is a British-headquartered restaurant chain, serving pan-Asian food in the style of a modern Japanese Ramen bar.
Contents |
[edit] History
Created by Alan Yau, who subsequently created the Chinese restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha in London, the first Wagamama opened in 1992 off Gower Street in Bloomsbury.
The chain currently includes 105 restaurants,[1] with 66 across the United Kingdom, and a further 39 branches overseas in Ireland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Kuwait, the U.A.E., Belgium, Malta, New Zealand, Switzerland, Egypt, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Sweden and the United States; the first three in Boston in 2007.[2] Wagamama operates no restaurants in Asia, a consequence of a menu intentionally pitched at Western consumers rather than designed for authenticity.
After a failed IPO in 2004 under previous owner Graphite Capital, in 2005 Lion Capital LLP bought an 88% stake for £102M.[3] In 2010 it appointed advisers N M Rothschild & Sons to put the chain up for sale for £250M.[1]
[edit] Brand
The chain's website defines wagamama as meaning "willful/naughty child"; however, a more accurate translation of the Japanese adjective わがまま (我侭, 我儘) is self-indulgence.[4] Their trademarked slogan is: positive eating + positive living,[5] and their philosophy is defined as "combining fresh and nutritious food in an elegant yet simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money".[6]
[edit] Features
Wagamama has a number of features that have since been adopted by many restaurants. Orders are taken via PDAs, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen. Once orders are taken, food order numbers are written on customers' paper menus and food is delivered to the table once cooked, which means dishes may not be served at the same time. Customers sit on either side of large tables, seating as many as 20 people at one table.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Wagamama restaurant chain 'is being put up for sale'". BBC News. August 1, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10832900. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "What's that Wagamama?". dquinn.net. November 2, 2007. http://www.dquinn.net/whats-that-wagamama/. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ Jessica Hodgson and Marietta Cauchi (August 1, 2010). "Wagamama Put On Block By Lion Capital". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100802-710457.html. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ translation page
- ^ Neither their website nor their restaurants provide nutritional information for the dishes on offer; however, they've published two cookbooks with many of their recipes included.
- ^ tab philosophy on website
