FishWorks owner buys fish and chip shop business Harry Ramsden's
FishWorks owner Ranjit Boparan has acquired fish and chip shop business Harry Ramsden's and plans to expand the chain by opening up to 100 new sites in the next five years.
The entrepreneur, who rescued four of the 10 FishWorks sites from administration last year, bought the business from former owners SSP Group through his private investment vehicle Boparan Ventures.
SSP said they had been looking to sell the 36 Harry Ramsden's sites, mostly in seaside resorts, travel locations and shopping centres, for some time. The group will continue to operate two outlets, at Euston station in London and Glasgow airport, under a franchise agreement.
Boparan said Harry Ramsden's is a "great British institution" which he plans to put back on the map.
"We're planning to open a further 100 locations within the next five years and expect to create around 600 new jobs, taking care to ensure that customers are guaranteed the same consistent quality at every single store," he said.
Andrew Lynch, SSP chief executive, added: "We took the decision to sell Harry Ramsden's some time ago to enable us to focus on our core business in travel locations, and we are delighted that this deal has now been completed."
Founded in 1928, there are currently 36 restaurants and takeaway outlets within the Harry Ramsden portfolio including the largest fish and chip shop in the world in Guiseley, Leeds.
In addition to FishWorks, which is overseen by chief executive Marija Simovic, and Harry Ramsden's, Boparan owns a number of businesses in the food sector employing 6,000 people worldwide.
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By Kerstin Kühn
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