Four years after first joining forces with TORIDOLL Holdings Corporation of Japan to launch Marugame Udon in the UK, Capdesia Group today announces that it has successfully exited its investment in the company.
The transition will see TORIDOLL, the parent company of Marugame Udon, take full ownership of Marugame Udon (Europe) Ltd. whilst continuing their close collaboration with Capdesia, as co-investors in The Fulham Shore Group and its Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurants. As part of the move, CEO and a Capdesia Operating Partner Keith Bird, will hand over to Finance Director Sam McIntyre, who will step-up to lead the business in the interim and take Marugame Udon into its next chapter, building on the strong groundwork laid by Capdesia and Keith Bird.
Capdesia Group and Keith Bird leave behind a legacy of significant achievements for Marugame in the UK. From a standing start, the brand has grown to ten successful sites in and around London within three years, cementing its reputation in the competitive UK hospitality landscape. Under the leadership of Keith Bird, the UK team has navigated the challenges of launching during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic headwinds, earning prestigious industry accolades such as the R200 Best Value Restaurant award in 2022, Best Employee Recognition Programme at the QSR Media Awards 2024 and the Launch Campaign of the Year at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards 2024.
Takashi Sugiyama, Executive Vice President, and COO of TORIDOLL Holdings Corporation said: “We are grateful to Capdesia, Keith, and their respective teams for their efforts in launching our flagship brand in the UK successfully. In this journey, several new best practices have been developed jointly for the benefit of Marugame Udon globally in areas such as systems, people, culture, restaurant design, marketing, and CRM. These improvements have positioned us for future growth and to continue with our UK and European expansion ambitions.”
Abe Matamoros, Co-founder & Managing Director of Capdesia Group, added: “It has been an honour to collaborate with Awata-San and the TORIDOLL team in the establishment of the Marugame Udon brand in the UK. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the Franco Manca and The Real Greek brands, and potentially other brands in the future.”
Keith Bird commented: “It has been an incredible journey bringing Marugame Udon to the UK. The dedication and passion of our team have been instrumental in establishing the brand and creating a solid foundation for future growth. I am confident that under Sam McIntyre’s leadership, Marugame Udon will continue to thrive and expand and deliver on its mission to bring udon to all.”