Giggling Squid reports turnover and Ebitda boost: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant group backed by Business Growth Fund, has reported sales of £11.8m in its most recent year, a healthy 55% increase on last year. It now claims to be the largest casual dining Thai with more sites than any other Thai brand in the UK. Currently trading from 17 sites, similar rates of growth are predicted as Giggling Squid plans to launch eight or nine more restaurants, with Warwick (150 covers) Wokingham (120 covers), and Farnham (140 covers) launching before Christmas. Ebitda rose to £1.9m, a 53% increase on last year. The company stated: “Due to high demand, Giggling Squid is now starting to open and fill larger units, as well as extending to all-day openings, as diners like to enjoy their unique lunch tapas concept long into late afternoon. All new sites opened so far have exceeded expectations, as the tentacles of brand reputation have advanced wider than their current trading footprint. Mature sites including Brighton and Henley are also doing well with double-digit growth across the estate. Looking ahead, the pipeline for 2017/2018 is also looking healthy with a number of properties secured or in planning processes; by the middle of 2017, Giggling Squid looks set to trade across 25 sites.” Giggling Squid founder Pranee Laurillard said: “These are very exciting times for the Giggling Squid family. We are thrilled with the support from our loyal customers and the demand from new ones. We can’t wait to bring our delicious Thai cooking to even more people across the country.” 

Innis & Gunn reveals pipeline of openings for Beer Kitchen brand including first international site: Scottish brewer and retailer Innis & Gunn has revealed a pipeline of openings for its Beer Kitchen brand, including its first venue overseas. The company will bring the brand to St Andrews next month followed by Glasgow in the spring and then Toronto in Canada. The St Andrews Beer Kitchen, in North Street, will host 14 different beer taps and have a bespoke selection of bottled and canned beers. The third Beer Kitchen comes as Innis & Gunn reported both The Beer Kitchen Edinburgh and Dundee exceeding performance expectations. The Beer Kitchen St Andrews will also continue the concept’s bar-come-restaurant model in which the brewer offers menus designed with beer at the very heart of them. Food represents 40% of Innis & Gunn’s retail business sales. Following the opening of St Andrews, Innis & Gunn plans to open its largest bar to date in Glasgow in the spring, which will include an on-site brewing facility. A venue has been agreed and work with start on the bar in January next year. Glasgow will lead the next wave of Beer Kitchens, with another three locations planned for 2017, including Innis & Gunn’s first international Beer Kitchen in Toronto, Canada. It is Innis & Gunn’s most successful market, with the brewer being the country’s best selling British bottled beer brand since 2003. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer, said: “Each new Beer Kitchen gives us a chance to introduce great craft beer to a new audience. We want our Beer Kitchens to be known as spaces where amazing beer and food can be enjoyed. It’s always rewarding to bring this to another town and I’m looking forward to giving St Andrews a new place to enjoy craft beer.” David Hall, managing director of Innis & Gunn Retail, added: “Edinburgh and Dundee have proved to be a successful start for our retail business. We seized on the opportunity to make St Andrews our third opening and are excited to showcase our beers in the town. We’ll be making plenty of Innis & Gunn beers available at the new bar, will continue to host tap takeovers with other breweries and test new and exclusive beer recipes on site. Opening up a new venue in St Andrews will be an integral step in developing the retail business further. The Beer Kitchen concept has proven successful and next year we’ll be building our biggest venue in Glasgow and taking the format overseas, with a Beer Kitchen in Toronto, Canada, our largest international market.”