Latest news with #PastaEvangelists
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Dragons' Den judges called my idea ‘a disaster' & ‘delusional' – now it's worth £40m & I'm opening 100 new restaurants
The popular pasta chain is already set to have almost a dozen outlets in southern England by the end of summer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ENTREPRENEUR whose restaurant idea was rejected as "a disaster" on Dragons' Den is set to open 100 new outlets of his popular chain. Alessandro Savelli, who co-founded Pasta Evangelists and currently serves as its CEO, says the chain is aiming to become the UK's "fastest-growing, casual dining hot spot". Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Pasta Evangelists was panned by business experts on Dragons' Den in 2018 Credit: BBC 5 Now, the company is worth millions of pounds and is aiming to open 100 new restaurants across the UK Credit: Pasta Evangelists - Supplied 5 The co-founders had asked for a £75,000 investment for a 2.5 per cent stake in the company during their appearance on the BBC show Credit: BBC Now worth around £40 million, Pasta Evangelists was rejected on Dragons' Den by business experts in 2018 when Savelli and co-founder Finn Lagun asked for a £75,000 investment for a 2.5 per cent cut of the company. Dragon Jenny Campbell even called Finn "delusional" and "a disaster" during their pitch. However, the entrepreneurs have no doubt had the last laugh as their business is now set for major expansion. Pasta Evangelists says it will invest £30 million into new restaurants, creating up to 1,500 jobs. It hopes to open 100 new restaurants across the UK in the next five years, including in the south of England, the Midlands, and Scotland. The company is also aiming to develop a "Pasta Apprenticeship" scheme to attract new staff and help the current workforce develop new skills and knowledge, reports The Grocer. Savelli said: "The demand for our fresh, beautifully cooked artisan pasta is growing. "Our intention is to become the UK's fastest-growing, casual dining hot spot and the hottest place to eat for pasta lovers of all ages. "Sustainable growth has always been our plan. "The hospitality industry is going through tough times at the moment, but we are confident that our business model is robust and dynamic, and the proof of this is we have already bucked the trend with the confirmed opening of five more restaurants in the space of three months, and more to come." Pasta Evangelists enter Dragons Den The chain opened a restaurant in Farringdon, central London, this summer as well as its first outside of the capital in Guildford in July. Three new London locations are set to open in the coming weeks, helping carry the total number of outlets to 11 as we head into autumn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the plans were "great news" and highlighted the "dynamism and resilience of British businesses". The restaurant has had a remarkable success story since its Dragons' Den miss. Recalling their appearance on the BBC show, Finn said he was "shaking life a leaf" before walking out to pitch his business. He added that he was left devastated by the business experts' "vicious" comments. Speaking to The Sun in 2023, he said: "I never would have expected to be called a 'disaster' or 'delusional' on national TV - they were vicious things to say to a young entrepreneur. 'To use that kind of language against a young, passionate person was dismaying. I would never talk to any young entrepreneur like that." Despite their lack of faith in the business, the Dragons are no doubt feeling red in the face now as Pasta Evangelists is one of the UK's biggest fresh pasta companies. It has also earned the highest praise from many voices, including chef Gordon Ramsay. SCARRED BY EXPERIENCE ON DRAGONS' DEN While Pasta Evangelists has gone on to huge success, Finn says he's still scarred by his experience in the Den. "We received an extremely strong, negative, visceral reaction," he says. 'I was 24 years old when I went on Dragons' Den, so for a seasoned entrepreneur like Jenny Campbell to call me 'delusional' and a 'disaster' was so vicious... Jenny was savage. 'At one point she said, 'I like it' and I replied, 'Thank you', only for her to say, 'I like it because it's a brilliant business lesson in how not to set up and run a business'. 'I was mortified, I felt like an idiot having grinned at her and thanked her. She was deliberately trying to take me for a ride for entertainment.' Finn adds: 'I don't want to sound like the Virgin Mary but if the tables were turned and I was Jenny Campbell, I would have apologised. 'If I saw the business had turned into the UK's biggest pasta company in a few years I'd say, 'Well done, you defied expectations' and maybe even offer a little contrition or an apology.' 5 Finn Lagun said he was left scarred by his experience on the show Credit: BBC
Metro
15 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
UK pasta chain with 'carbonara of dreams' is expanding with 300 restaurants plan
When the Pasta Evangelists team appeared on Dragons' Den in 2018, the dragons told them they were 'delusional' and that their idea was a 'disaster'. Flash forward to 2025 and the pasta company has just revealed major expansion plans, with a goal of having 100 restaurants across the UK in the next five years and 300 globally in the longer-term. The company's first dedicated restaurant, a pasta emporium, opened in Richmond last summer with self-serve wine machines, a chef handmaking pasta in the window and some delicious dishes. Following that, they opened seven other restaurants in areas such as Greenwich, Guildford and Manchester Airport. Now co-founders Alessandro Savelli, Finn Lagun and Chris Rennoldson are looking to invest more than £30 million in even more locations. The team started Pasta Evangelists in a basement in London in 2016 and it went on to become a successful delivery business. The aim was to bring fresh pasta, just like Alessandro's Italian nonna used to make, to British kitchens. They've since gone on to launch 47 takeaway units, a pasta bar in Harrods as well as pasta academies where they share their secrets. Along the way they've garnered support from top chefs like Prue Leith and Gordon Ramsay and online fans have hailed the food as 'incredible', 'spectacular' and 'delicious'. The chain's carbonara in particular is a hit with customers, who have claimed it's 'the best carbonara' and the 'carbonara of dreams'. Speaking about the expansion plans, Alessandro told the Times he wants Pasta Evangelists to become 'the UK's fastest-growing, casual dining spot'. More Trending The plan is to 'flip' a number of the dark kitchens they already own – these are spaces where professional food is prepared and cooked solely for delivery or takeaway purposes, with no store-front or dine-in area. The business will also be looking to specifically target the South of England, Midlands and Scotland in the UK for new restaurants, creating up to 1,500 new jobs. View More » And a 'Pasta Apprenticeship' scheme is also in the works, to help staff develop culinary and hospitality skills. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Walkers is launching two permanent new crisp flavours for first time in decades MORE: Lidl just launched three 'divine' new bakery items — starting from 79p MORE: I ate at the UK's most popular seaside restaurant to see if it lives up to the hype Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Behind Barilla's $40M Pasta Acquisition
Dive into the extraordinary growth story of Pasta Evangelists, a London-based company that's revolutionizing the pasta market in the UK beyond. From humble beginnings in a basement, Cofounder and CMO Finn Lagun (Forbes 30 Under 30) and his team have built a multi-faceted business, now poised for global expansion. Finn Lagun's vision for a luxury pasta subscription box service was dismissed by investors as "delusional" shortly after launching in 2016. Undaunted, Lagun and his cofounders grew the business to $26 million in revenue in 2021, opened a London restaurant, and were acquired by Barilla, the world's largest pasta maker for £40 million.
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
Pasta Evangelists plans to open 100 new restaurants
A London-based fresh pasta specialist is defying the gloom being felt in the hospitality sector with plans to open 100 new restaurants, creating up to 1,500 jobs. Pasta Evangelists, which made its name after being rejected by Dragons' Den investors and branded 'pasta la disaster', is now looking for franchise partners as it hunts out sites up and down the country. It plans to invest more than £30 million in the new restaurants, about half of which will be 'flipping' its 'dark kitchens': food preparation hubs that service delivery and takeaway orders quickly. 'If you are just doing delivery only you can obviously only be making delivery-only cash,' Finn Lagun, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Pasta Evangelists, told The Times. 'But if you dine in as well, you get the dine-in cash, alcohol sales and offer our events like pasta-making experiences, which are very high margin.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Harrods to cut ties with Tom Kerridge in major shake-up after chef was criticised for price of his £37 fish and chips
Harrods is set to end its partnerships with celebrity chefs, including Tom Kerridge and Gordon Ramsay, in a major shake-up. The luxury department store, based in London, will no longer serve food from a selection of outside vendors and will shift to focusing on selling in-house produce by the end of the month. The change means that Kerridge will no longer sell his fish and chips with the controversial £37 price tag at the department store from the end of August. Despite the high price point, the chef, 52, repeatedly defended the cost of the British classic dish, claiming it should be the expectation when dining at Harrods. Harrods' decision is also a blow for Gordon Ramsay of Gordon Ramsay Burger, Calum Franklin of Franklin's restaurant, and Masayoshi Takayama of Sushi by Masa, which will all close at Harrods. Ramsay's burger joint, known for serving an £85 wagyu beef burger, will serve its final orders slightly later in January, the Caterer reported. Harrods' bosses decided to adapt its offerings due to a change in customer demand, preferences, and industry trends. In recent times, the store has seen a surge in people seeking out foods by the department store and recording their thoughts on social media. The online trend is no doubt fuelling Harrods' decision to invest in its own food and beverage ideas, with more openings due in the coming months. While celebrity chefs are losing out, brands, including Pasta Evangelists and Kinoya Ramen Bar, will maintain their position in the store. Michael Ward, managing director at Harrods, told the Caterer: 'As part of Harrods' considered customer approach, we took the decision a number of months ago to review feedback and data to ensure our in-store experience is delivering against customers' evolving preferences. 'Harrods has a rich history of serving the finest food and drink and we are constantly progressing our dining offerings. 'We'd like to thank all the fantastic chefs that we have been very privileged to work with over the last few years for their partnership. 'Together we have served many thousands of diners from shoppers to families and friends celebrating special moments in our restaurants.' Earlier this year, Tom Kerridge hit back at critics who moaned about his £37 fish and chips at Harrods. The Market Day Fish Meal includes a piece of Cornish fish coated in Kerridge's gluten-free batter and is served with eight chips, Matson curry sauce, tartare sauce, and pease pudding. The whopping price tag proved divisive for some diners, but the defiant Michelin-starred chef insisted that if diners are looking for 'cheap and cheerful' they should look elsewhere. 'Do the people who shout about the price of my fish and chips [£37] also shout at Ferrari when it launches a new car?,' he told The Times. 'If you're getting the best you can get, that's how much it is. It's very different from a fish and chip shop like where I grew up. 'Frozen blocks of fish, which are sometimes shipped to China to be processed, are different from fish caught by a guy who has been on a boat throughout the night.' Kerridge also said he is not to blame for the extortionate price tag during an interview with foodie content creators Topjaw on Instagram. He said: 'I have nothing to do with the pricing at Harrods, really. So I have everything to do with the quality of produce that we buy. 'It's day boat fish. It's really expensive, and all of those sorts of things. They set the price, that's nothing to do with me. 'That backlash always comes back to me. But it's also in the most beautiful food hall, arguably, in the world, in the most expensive shop, in the most expensive city, in the most expensive part of the city, in the world. 'It's Harrods, everything about it is going to be expensive. If you're expecting something cheap and cheerful, you don't get cheap and cheerful in Harrods. You get a quality level.' It's not the first time that Tom, who appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef, defended the expensive meal. The three Michelin-star chef, who runs eight restaurants, including the Hand of Flowers and The Coach, both in upmarket Marlow, Buckinghamshire, has also increased the price of his hand-cut triple cooked chips and lobster. Kerridge's thick cut chips now set customers back a hefty £9.50, having previously been priced at £8.50. This is the same new price for his Cornish New Potatoes with Herb Butter, which have also increased in price by one pound. The price of a Whole Lobster has also increased by a whopping £15. The dish used to cost £65, but it has since shot up to £80. The Harrods website reads: 'British meals don't get more classic than fish and chips. For young and old alike, the crunch of batter encasing tender fish together with a chunky chip dipped in ketchup is the ultimate heartwarming nod to comfort and nostalgia. 'Trust in Tom Kerridge to take the UK's favourite dish to new heights at his eponymous restaurant. 'On the menu created by one of the UK's best-loved chefs, you'll find Britain's finest, freshest seafood, all ethically caught and hand-selected by local fishmongers. 'From the daily catch to hand-dived scallops and native lobster, there's a variety of grilled and deep-fried options - with the chef's signature crisp and gluten-free batter - that will have you salivating. 'And as you'd expect, Kerridge does not neglect the chips, which take two days to be prepared before they arrive at your table, piping hot and triple-cooked alongside a choice of dips. 'Choose to pair yours with caviar and creme fraiche, or his homemade Matson curry sauce - a tribute to Kerridge's local chip shop around the corner from where he grew up. Last year, Tom also met backlash by a food critic for serving a £32 plate of fish and chips at Kerridge's Bar and Grill in central London. The chef took to Instagram to share a video of the dish, served with posh mushy peas and curry sauce, claiming it's always a 'crowd pleaser.' However, one food critic said the portion was so small it made the fork look big. Others claimed Kerridge's food was 'far too expensive' and was 'just battered fish.' 'That is either a small fillet or a very large fork. No denying the impressive crunch, however,' food critic Daniel Young joked. Kerridge, who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars, boasted, 'I just love the crunch and crackle of the famous Fish & Chips at Kerridge's Bar and Grill. 'Gluten-free, delicious and served with fluffy triple cooked chips, tartare sauce, spiced Matson sauce and pease pudding, this is always a crowd pleaser.' But fans weren't as convinced, with one writing, 'This man's food is far too expensive.' Another said, 'Hardly a wow factor, just battered fish, with a joking price.' 'How much for that tiny fish though? Probably about a score,' joked another. Others asked, 'Where's the rest of it?'. However, some people came to the chef's defence saying it 'looks fab' and that they 'could eat that'. 'The best food we ever had, the best weekend there last week amazing staff thank you Tom,' said another.
