Healthy fast food chain Chopped is opening six new outlets, and the company said the new restaurants across Dublin and Kildare will employ up to 120 new staff. Founded by Andy Chen and Brian Lee in 2012 it specialises in fresh made salads, wraps and sandwiches with healthy ingredients. There are currently 13 Chopped outlets. The one planned for the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge as part of this latest expansion will be the first outside Dublin.
Chopped's co-founder Brian Lee said the company is very excited about the new openings, but especially the new outlet at The Loop in Dublin Airport, under a strategic partnership deal with Aramark, and a new outlet in Dundrum - both of which will open on Monday.
Explaining the Chopped concept, Mr Lee said the business offers fresh, nutritional and healthy fastfood. Customers have freedom of choice over "a million combinations" and get an overall dining experience, and are not just going in and picking up pre-packed food, he added. He said the company wants to challenge the likes of McDonalds and Burger King in the fast food market, and turn people around to the concept of healthy fast food.
Chopped has agreed a five year strategic deal with catering company Aramark, which owns the Avoca chain. Mr Lee said the deal with Aramark has opened doors for the company in the UK which will see Chopped enter the education, corporates and airport markets along with Aramark as well as entering UK shopping centres. With Aramark's skill-sets and contacts, he said that the company will be able to enter the UK market a lot easier than if it was doing it alone.
The company is also considering a challenge to the likes of McDonalds' 'Happy Meals' to encourage children to eat healthy fast food meals. Mr Lee would also like to develop links with schools which would see Chopped lunchboxes becoming available for children there. While admitting that processed foods can be cheaper, Mr Lee said that Chopped prices are not "premium prices" and their prices are very "cost effective".
By the end of November, the company will have recruited another 120 new staff and next year Mr Lee said the company wants to concentrate on bringing Chopped into the UK with plans already in place for new outlets in London by April of next year.
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MORNING BRIEFS - Microsoft shares last night passed the price they hit at the peak of dotcom fever in 1999. The technology company's stock price topped $58.70 following first quarter results which exceeded analysts' expectations. Microsoft's revenue for the period rose by 3% to $22.3 billion and it posted net profit of $4.69 billion during the period, both ahead of Wall Street predictions. The growth was driven by strong performance at Microsoft's cloud business Azure. It provides a range of services to corporate clients ranging from data storage to helping firms run their internet-based applications.
*** Property developer Greg Kavanagh has sold his stake in New Generation homes which came to prominence during the recession as it bought up real estate around Dublin at depressed prices and amassed a large land bank. The terms were not disclosed. The Irish Times describes it as a multi-million euro payout for the developer. A figure "in excess of €150m" is reported in the Irish Independent. Mr Kavanagh has sold his stake in the commercial and residential property venture to London-based M&G Investments. The assets will transfer to a new company and he will retain the New Generation Homes name under the terms of the deal.
