AROUND 75 Ask Italian and Zizzi restaurants will not reopen following the Covid-19 pandemic, putting 1200 jobs at risk.
TowerBrook Capital Partners is taking over from the Azzuri Group, and plans to keep 225 restaurants open – protecting 5000 jobs. But 75 sites fall outside the scope of the deal and will be shut.
Currently it is not known which restaurants will be affected by closures. Ask Italian and Zizzi both have restaurants across Scotland.
Ask Italian and Zizzi operate in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, while Zizzi also has restaurants in Inverness and St Andrews.
The coronavirus lockdown hit the dining sector particularly hard, and several restaurants have announced plans for closures and job losses in recent weeks.
The Restaurant Group, which owns Frankie and Benny’s, put up to 3000 jobs on the line with plans to close 125 sites, while Bella Italia and Café Rouge owner Casual Dining Group will shut 91 restaurants.
Pizza Express is also set to shut 75 UK sites.
Steve Holmes, the chief executive of Azzurri Group, said the pandemic had had “a profound impact on the casual dining sector, bringing many businesses like ours to a standstill”.
“Despite being a successful operator, the immediate loss of revenue during lockdown meant that we have had to make some incredibly difficult decisions to protect the business for the long term,” he said.
“It is with deep sadness that this process will result in the permanent closure of a number of sites and that we must say goodbye to greatly valued employees across our brands.
“Looking forwards, TowerBrook is a strong new partner who shares our ambitions for the future.
“Their additional investment has enabled us to preserve the majority of our restaurants, stores and jobs and I am confident that, under TowerBrook’s ownership, Azzurri will navigate the period ahead successfully.”
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