Autumn opening for Asian-inspired restaurant in key NW shopping centre

Asian-inspired restaurant brand, itsu, is set to open its first shopping centre site in the North at the Trafford Centre this autumn.

The health(ier) brand currently operates more than 80 locations across the UK and has chosen a 2,900 sq ft location in the retail centre’s Upper Crescent.

The menu will offer itsu’s trademark fresh Asian-inspired nutritious food, including sushi, salads, wraps, soups and more.

Aiming for a user-friendly experience, the new restaurant will include digital ordering screens, allowing for the customisation of hot dishes and instant access to nutritional and allergen information.

A take-away service will also be an option.

The Trafford Centre site will be itsu’s third in the North and play into its wider business objective of increasing accessibility to healthy, affordable, delicious meals.

With a focus on eliminating food waste, itsu will also be offering half price sushi 30 minutes before closing each day.

Kitty Vaughan, Head of UK Leisure and F&B Leasing at Pradera Lateral, said: “There is a real appetite for fresh and healthy produce in the UK market currently, with elevated brands such as itsu expanding at an impressive rate.

“As such, itsu is a positive addition to our food and beverage offering at Trafford Centre, as we continue to offer our visitors a versatile range of food options.”

Catrin Williams, Head of Marketing at itsu, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our second site in Manchester. We chose the Trafford Centre as it’s an ideal location for our brand new restaurant due to its prominent position as a world-renowned shopping centre with significant footfall and excellent transport links throughout the North.”