Wagamama acquisition looks to be back on track

Wagamama looks increasingly likely to sell to The Restaurant Group (TRG) for £559 million, despite some restaurant investors hitting the panic button last week. Jo Hambro Capital — a top five investor — has backed the plan, with those in favour looking to assuage concerns over dilution of shareholder value. [MCA Insight/Paywall]

Street-side shipping containers continue moving street food off street

Alt-shopping centre Boxpark has announced more new “street food” operators in advance of opening a third container complex in Wembley, which will be entirely under cover and not on the street at all. Notables include Islington pizza favourite Zia Lucia; new brands announced this week include Seven Dials all-day diners Boki, and Angel ‘curries in wraps’ specialists Bombay Burrito. A Boxpark spokesperson said: “It’s great to see that the foodie line-up at Boxpark Wembley is nearly complete with some of the finest offerings on the street food scene housed under one roof.”

‘Neighbourhood’ pizzeria will open in West Norwood

Four Hundred Rabbits will open a third restaurant, following up sites in Crystal Palace and Nunhead. Focussed on craft beers alongside slow-fermented dough, the restaurant is a steady contender on London’s pizza scene. The restaurant had attempted to open in the area in 2017, but the landlord of that site pulled out of the deal. [MCA Insight/Paywall]

Superfood hawkers zoom in on target market

Açai Berry will open in Chelsea, following up its three central London açai bars. The bar claims that David Beckham, Usain Bolt, and Barcelona footballer Phillipe Coutinho are regular customers, lured in by the antioxidant superfood amino acid immune booster buzzword promise and lurid purple colour.