Bella Italia benefits from £30m investment

Bella Italia’s parent company invests additional £30m to strengthen its businesses.

Bella Italia’s parent group, Casual Dining Group, has announced that is has secured a £30m investment for its three brands to ensure they’re able to continue growing and prospering.

The cash injection is set to continue the Italian dining franchise’s success, by allowing further growth and long-term capital structure in a trading environment that’s been challenging in recent months. With its three rapidly expanding dining franchises, Bella Italia’s parent company sought the investment so it could continue to support all of its franchisees and allow them to make their businesses the best they can be.

Chief executive of Casual Dining Group, Steve Richards, has said how pleased the company is with the new investment. “We are delighted to have agreed substantial new investment which establishes a strong foundation to continue to invest in our brands and take advantage of opportunities in the sector as they arise.”

He said how the group has bucked the trend at a time when many in the sector are struggling. “Total sales up nearly five per cent and like-for-like sales up 2.3 per cent in the past 14 weeks. We have also seen double digit profit uplift in the period. Our growth initiatives gather pace with delivery, partnership openings and our digital-first approach all driving sales.”

Richards also said that the group has opened seven exciting new concession sites in airports and hotels since the beginning of 2018 and has plenty of plans for new expansion in the coming months.

With Italian executive chef, Vittorio Lettieri, overseeing every dish that’s added to the menu, Bella Italia offers an authentic taste of Italy in every delicious meal. It opened its doors in the UK in 1990 and now has over 110 restaurants across the country.