Giggling Squid appoints Peter Morrison as operations director
Casual dining Thai group Giggling Squid has appointed Peter Morrison as its new operations director.
With over 25 years' experience, he will now help to develop the Giggling Squid group, which has focused its expansion on sites vacated by other restaurant groups. With 12 sites currently, it is also considering properties further across the Home Counties and the Midlands, as part of its wider plans to open 50 to 70 restaurants within five to seven years.
The appointment comes just months after Grant Thorton joined the company as growth adviser.
Morrison joins from a similar role at Tex-Mex chain Chimichanga, which he helped grow from 17 to 38 sites in two years. He also previously worked in operations positions within the Prezzo group.
Commenting on Giggling Squid's success and his plans for the group, Morrison said: "Most customers are under the impression that they're eating in a one off independent. They're genuinely surprised when they discover there's more than one Giggling Squid. I want keep hold of that same feel, whilst building a national brand."
Giggling Squid was founded in 2009 by husband and wife team Andrew and Pranee Laurillard, and serves "tapas style" sharing plates cooked along traditional Thai lines.
It currently has venues in Brighton, Hove, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Henley-on-Thames, Reigate, Stratford-upon-Avon, Marlow, Horsham, Sevenoaks, Salisbury and Bristol, and expects to open sites in Guildford, Bury St Edmunds, Billericay and Bath within the coming months.
