Mon 13th Nov 2017 - Chopstix acquires Yangtze brand Chopstix acquires Yangtze brand: Chopstix Group, which owns and operates the eponymous chain of 75 noodle restaurants across the country, has completed its first acquisition. The company has bought the Yangtze chain of restaurants from The Wok for an undisclosed sum, in a deal backed by Metro Bank. Launched in 2006 and employing 70 staff, Yangtze operates nine premium, quick-service Chinese restaurants across the UK and Ireland. As a result of the acquisition, Chopstix Group is now active within 35 shopping centres across the country. The Chopstix brand operates 75 units in total, 26 of which are located within shopping centres, while all nine Yangtze outlets are located within shopping centres, including the Merryhill Centre in Dudley and the Meadowhall Centre in Sheffield. Chopstix Group was founded by Sam Elia and Menashe Sadik in 2001, and together, they have overseen the growth of their Oriental food brand, Chopstix. Under their stewardship, the brand, which offers consumers a “faster, fresher, healthier alternative” in the food-to-go sector, has seen its outlet count double in the past 18 months. However Elia and Sadik said have kept a close eye on the market over the past year or so, assessing potential purchase options. Elia added: “We have been keen to extend our restaurant interests in the ‘food-to-go’ sector for a number of years, however, we were prepared to wait until the right proposition presented itself. With this acquisition, we are pleased to add a second premium brand to our portfolio, and fully intend to maximise the potential of both Chopstix and Yangtze in the months and years ahead.” Sadik added: “Now our first acquisition has been concluded, there is a real appetite and desire to consider future activity. We are already assessing a number of potential deals, and while Chopstix and Yangtze share an obvious affinity, we are not inclined to limit ourselves exclusively to the Oriental influenced sector, as we seek to achieve the group’s acquisition and growth ambitions.” GVA NI represented Chopstix Group in the acquisition.