Restaurant group Marco Marco has appetite for growth

A SMALL Cheshire restaurant business is is set to more than double in size after securing £3.5m investment from a private equity firm.

Italian chain Marco Marco, which has three sites in Northwich, Lymm and Marple Bridge, has struck a deal with London corporate finance and private investment house Niton Parners.

The funding will see Marco Marco open three new restaurants, expand its operations and management teams and develop its marketing programme.

The business is led by experienced leisure sector operator Stephen Garrity, 47, formerly managing director of the Shere Khan Group and an executive with Est Est Est and The Restaurant Group, which operator of Frankie & Bennys’ and Chiquitos

Despite the ultra-competitive sector, Mr Garrity says there are opportunities if the proposition is right: “This economic climate is no friend of past reputation and we have to continually develop and take opportunities as they appear.

“We are an ambitious restaurant group with a great deal of potential, but to succeed we have to listen to our customers and deliver a first class product.

“We have started to make a significant impact in the North West region and to replicate this nationally we must ensure we capitalise on all exciting growth opportunities that are open to us. This investment has allowed us to earmark a number of future sites.”

The first Marco Marco restaurant opened in Acton Bridge, Northwich in 2009.

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