Brits seeking out healthier lunch options helped to drive up sales at Itsu by more than a fifth last year.
Itsu, the sushi specialist launched by Pret a Manger founder Julian Metcalfe, posted a 20.8 per cent rise in turnover to £67.9m in the year to January, with like-for-like sales up by 6.8 per cent. Ebitda earnings rose by 32.7 per cent to £6.9m.
Metcalfe described the performance as driven by consumer demand for healthier meal choices at affordable prices.
Itsu also commented that it is winning more customers after expanding its menu and extending its trading hours to cater to people wanting breakfast and food on the way home in the evening as well as at lunch.
Itsu now operates 50 outlets after adding 10 last year, and expects to open a further 10 in the current year, including a growing number of regional outlets.