Chopstix, the rapidly expanding pan-Asian quick service restaurant (QSR) brand, has deepened its ties with franchise partner Haven, unveiling a new ‘eat-in’ restaurant at the Thornwick Bay holiday park. This development introduces a traditional four-walled restaurant format to the holiday park for the first time, following the success of three modular Chopstix units across other Haven parks.
This strategic expansion into more traditional restaurant settings marks a pivotal moment for both Chopstix and Haven, signaling potential further deployments throughout the Haven network. The latest establishment follows the successful launches at Haven’s Presthaven, Haggerston Castle, and Craig Tara parks, underscoring a robust partnership geared towards broader culinary offerings within Haven’s sites.
Operational management of the new Thornwick Bay location will be handled by Haven, ensuring that all staff members are fully trained under Chopstix’s comprehensive induction programme to align closely with the brand’s ethos. Haven’s guests can look forward to a diverse menu featuring Chopstix favourites such as Teriyaki Beef and Caramel Drizzle Chicken, complemented by a variety of sides including Spring Rolls, Chicken Balls, Prawn Crackers, and Salt ‘n’ Pepper Potatoes.
The expansion through franchise partnerships has been a key driver of Chopstix’s growth, with the brand securing numerous agreements with leading food and beverage operators over recent years. As the largest Asian-inspired QSR in the UK, Chopstix is now setting its sights on becoming the top Asian-inspired QSR across Europe, with aggressive expansion plans aimed at reaching 300 locations by 2027.
Sam Elia, co-founder and director of Chopstix, expressed enthusiasm about the new venture: “We’re thrilled to be opening a traditional Chopstix site with seating at Haven’s Thornwick Bay park, the first of this format to open with the franchisee. The fact Haven is confident in adding this traditional format site to its current portfolio of modular units demonstrates the significant appetite for Chopstix noodles among Haven holiday guests.”
He added, “The three modular restaurants we’ve opened with Haven so far have all performed exceptionally well, so I have no doubt the franchisee will have considerable success with this four-walled unit given the even wider range of eating occasions this format offers consumers.”
Peter Blake, Chief Operating Officer at Haven, also commented on the launch: “We’re excited to launch Chopstix in Thornwick Bay and to see how the brand performs in this traditional four-walled format, a first for Haven. The feedback from customers at our Presthaven, Haggerston Castle, and Craig Tara sites has been overwhelmingly positive, with guests viewing Chopstix as a welcome addition to our broader food and drink offer. The performance of the initial three Chopstix sites has given us impetus to explore further openings with the brand beyond Thornwick Bay.”
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