Café Rouge owner Tragus has bought 16-strong restaurant group Ma Potter’s for £14.5m.

Tragus, which operates more than 160 sites including the Bella Italia and Ortega brands, finalised the deal for the primarily shopping centre-based group today.

Ma Potter’s founder and managing director John Gater is expected to leave the business and it is anticipated that a number of the Ma Potter’s sites will be converted to Tragus’s Café Rouge and Bella Italia bands. 

Tragus added that it would review the remaining Ma Potters restaurants, potentially enhancing them and keeping them as a fourth brand.

Graham Turner, chief executive of Tragus, said: “As we continue to develop our core restaurant brands across the UK we are pleased to find acquisition opportunities to accelerate our growth. This is an excellent opportunity to increase our presence in key UK locations”  

Café Rouge owner enjoys bumper Christmas trading >>

Blackstone deal shows the value of good management at Tragus >>

Tragus set to push tapas brand openings >>

Ma Potters brings new concept Coal to the Welsh >>

Ma Potter’s website >>

Tragus website >>

By Chris Druce

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.