Ownership history
The business, then owned by Penta Capital, which had bought a stake in the firm in August 2005, [4] was bought by private equity firm Lyceum Capital (later re-branded Horizon Capital) [6] in March 2011. [7] Annual sales were £68 million in 2008 and approximately £100 million in 2012. The 2012 profit was £2.7 million. [7] In November 2012, the company opened a £1 million flagship outlet in the Strand, London. [7] [8]
Eat expanded with operations in France and Spain through franchise agreements.
In May 2019, having struggled in an increasingly competitive market and having made a loss of £17m the previous year, Eat was acquired by Pret a Manger. Pret a Manger suggested that it might use the chain's locations to expand its Veggie Pret format to cater for a growing trend towards vegan and vegetarian food. [9]
On 23 March 2020, it was announced that the remaining 90 UK Eat branded restaurants were to close permanently. [10]
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itsu is a British chain of East Asian-inspired fast food shops and restaurants and a grocery company. The company offers franchises.
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