Jamie Oliver expands Jamie’s Italian into Asia

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is set to expand his high street restaurant chain Jamie’s Italian to Asia.

Hong Kong-based Tranic Franchising has partnered with Oliver's company to roll the concept out across the continent, with up to 30 restaurants planned.

The group plans to launch the first Asian Jamie’s Italian in Hong Kong in the first half of next year, with a further five outlets planned for the city and Singapore.

Tranic hopes to roll out another 24 restaurants in other parts of the region over the next five years, with China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea among the most likely candidates for location.

The company will set up a development hub in Hong Kong, which will provide all regional support in licensing, real estate, training and logistics for the project.

Kevin Bacon, managing director of Jamie’s Italian International, said the concept’s appeal could translate into almost every major city in the world.

“When it comes to going international, we want to do it with partners who share our ethos and ethics and want to grow alongside an exciting business; we believe, together with Tranic Franchising, that we can make Jamie’s Italian a phenomenon in Asia,” he said.

Jamie’s Italian launched in Oxford last year and currently operates five restaurants in the UK. It opened its first central London outlet in Canary Wharf earlier this month and will launch two more sites this year in Guilford and Cardiff.

First Jamie’s Italian in central London to open ahead of plan >>

Jamie Oliver to open flagship Italian restaurant in Covent Garden >>

Oliver to open first Jamie’s Italian in London >>


By Kerstin Kühn

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