Shake Shack steps up expansion with more new sites
American burger group Shake Shack is to open two new sites: one in London and one in Cardiff.
Both are set to open in late 2015/early 2016. The London location will be at 80 New Oxford Street, and the company's third in the city, after Covent Garden (which opened in 2013) and Westfield Stratford City (2015).
The Cardiff site will be in the St David's Shopping Centre, near the Millennium Stadium, and will be the group's first non-London UK site.
The group's signature menu states its burgers are made with 100%, hormone-free Aberdeen Angus beef, plus hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, beer and wine, and frozen custard "concrete" drinks.
In line with the company's usual style, the new sites will feature interior design using recyclable and sustainable materials, including table wood from reclaimed bowling alleys in Brooklyn, USA, and wooden walls harvested from Wyoming snow fence, plus energy-efficient kitchen equipment and lighting.
Randy Garutti, Shake Shack chief executive, said: "London has been so welcoming to us, and we've been humbled by the passionate response from fans across the UK. Our teams continue to seek out and deepen ties with talented local producers and more guests, as we extend our roots in the UK."
Nigel Sherwood, business director of Shake Shack UK, added: "This is an extremely exciting time for us, particularly as we deepen our connection to the UK. We plan to ensure that not only is each Shack engrained in its community but also becomes a true gathering spot."
He also confirmed that the group would continue to look for further opportunities across major cities worldwide.
Shake Shack was originally founded by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns a host of New York restaurants including the Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, the Modern at the Museum of Modern Art, Maialino, North End Grill, Blue Smoke, and Marta.
It was first opened in 2004 in New York's Madison Square Park, and now has sites across 12 US states, plus other worldwide locations including Istanbul, Dubai and Moscow.
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