Ottolenghi to open biggest restaurant yet as profits grow

Mediterranean restaurant and delicatessen business Ottolenghi is set to open its biggest outlet yet in London's Fitzrovia.

The news was revealed as the group posted pre-tax profit increases of more than 30%.

In its annual report lodged at Companies House, the company said it had signed a lease for a site in Wells Street.

The venue, close to London's theatre district, will feature a menu "focused on vegetables and on produce brought directly from selected, outstanding farmers".

Plans for the interior, submitted to Westminster Council, show a large, central oval bar with substantial seating and a retail area.

Yotam Ottolenghi's group of restaurants, delicatessens and food outlets saw pre-tax profits increase to £1.1m in the 12 months to April 2017, up from £737,431 the previous year.

In the same period turnover increased by 5.4% to £17.2m, despite the group reporting that food price inflation had hit profits towards the end of the financial year.

The company has also expressed concern about Brexit, particularly the impact on labour supply and the performance of the UK economy.

Israeli-born Ottolenghi moved to London in 1998 and trained at Cordon Bleu before working as a pastry chef at the Capital restaurant in Knightsbridge and Kensington Place. He then moved to the Baker and Spice shop in Chelsea, where he became head pastry chef.

In 2002, he teamed with Noam Bar, Sami Tamimi and Jim Webb to set up Ottolenghi, which now has restaurants in Belgravia, Spitalfields, Islington and Notting Hill, as well as Nopi in the West End.

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