Obika plans UK roll-out of restaurants

Italian restaurant concept Obikà plans to expand across the UK and hopes to launch up to 10 new outlets over the next five years.

Obikà, which has restaurants in Rome, Milan and Turin in Italy, as well as in Tokyo, New York and the Middle East, launched its UK business with an outlet at London department store Selfridges in 2005.

It opened its first stand alone restaurant at the Club Quarters hotel off Trafalgar Square earlier this month, where it is also responsible for room service and breakfast.

Obikà, which specialises in buffalo mozzarella served with Italian accompaniments such as charcuterie and roasted vegetables, hopes to expand both in the UK and internationally, with further ventures in the Middle East, Japan and the USA in the pipeline. In the UK, the group has expansion plans for London and other major cities.

UK managing director Stefano Potorti told Caterersearch Obikà is currently in talks to launch a kiosk operation in the City of London with a view to open in May next year.

"We're also planning to launch a second stand alone restaurant in Chelsea in 2009," he said. "Outside of London we're planning launches in Windsor in 2010 as well as Edinburgh and Manchester."

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By Kerstin Kühn

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