Vapiano UK appoints Roberto Moretti as new CEO

Italian casual dining chain Vapiano UK has appointed Roberto Moretti as the firm's CEO, taking over from outgoing managing director Phil Sermon.

Moretti's experience in hospitality started in home city Cape Town, South Africa. He went on to spend 10 years at Zizzi, leaving as operations director before serving as the managing director of Bill's. Most recently he was contract managing director at Coco Di Mama.

He said: "I am excited to join the team at Vapiano UK next week.

"The group is renowned for serving truly fresh food, all made daily on site; from a varied selection of handmade pasta shapes, through to fresh pizza dough, dressings, sauces and dolci.

"The restaurants are in located in prominent spots around the UK and offer a relaxed dining environment where food is made to order right in front of you, by your own personal chef.

"Vapiano's first restaurant on Great Portland Street celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is still serving upwards of 10,000 guests a week, which is an incredible achievement in what is a really competitive and challenging environment.

"It's an exciting time for Vapiano right now and I am really looking forward to building on the group's achievements to date and to further develop and enhance the brand."

His starting date, 23 October, is just three days before the brand launches a new site at One Tower Bridge. Further sites are planned for Tottenham Court Road in late 2018 and Canary Wharf in early 2019.

Vapiano announces plans for three London openings >>

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