Extra MSA has agreed two lease agreements with TRGC that will bring pan-Asian restaurant chain wagamama to motorway service stations for the first time.
The brand will open circa 2,500 sq ft restaurants at Beaconsfield Services (M40 J2) and Cobham Services (M25 J9/10) on 15-year leases.
The new motorway locations represent another milestone in TRGC’s long-standing partnership with wagamama, expanding the brand into a new travel format while continuing its growth across key airport destinations.
Jonathan Knight, CEO of TRGC, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing wagamama to motorway services for the first time, marking another important milestone in our long-standing partnership with the brand. As we prepare for next chapter with Areas, we’re looking forward to building on that momentum and continuing to grow wagamama across UK travel hubs, bringing high quality, experience-led dining concepts to travellers, wherever their journey takes them.”
Francisco Neves, SVP franchise and partnerships international at wagamama, added: “We’re delighted to be expanding our partnership with TRGC and bringing wagamama to motorway service stations. As more guests look for fresh, high quality food while travelling, these new locations allow us to introduce the wagamama experience to even more people on the move. Alongside the recent launch of our ‘on the move’ proposition at Heathrow Terminal 5, these openings represent an exciting step in making wagamama more accessible wherever our guests are travelling.”
Tom Dobson, chief executive of Extra MSA, said: “As part of our ‘Extra Mile’ commitment, we’re focused on continually raising the bar for the motorway experience by introducing exciting, high quality food and drink brands to the network. Wagamama is a standout addition, and these latest openings reflect the strength of that vision. We’re grateful to TRGC for its support in bringing these sites forward, helping us to further enhance our offer and give customers access to restaurant-quality dining while on the move.”
Neil Grice, director at Savills, which advised Extra on the transactions, added: “The roadside sector continues to attract some of the UK’s strongest food and beverage brands as customer expectations evolve. Bringing wagamama to motorway service stations for the first time is a significant milestone and these lettings further strengthen Extra’s reputation for delivering high quality dining options across its network.”
