Capital Fund backs food businesses
Article Date: Sep 04 2008The Capital Fund, the government-backed regional venture capital fund for London, has made investments in two catering entrepreneurs. Fast food chain Hummus Bros and White Circle Organisation, the owner of branded eateries in the capital, each received £250,000.
Established in 2004, Hummus Bros operates two branches in London’s Soho and Holborn areas. The restaurants serve hummus as a base topped with hot or cold toppings such as mushrooms, chicken or guacamole, and accompanied by pitta bread.
Benjamin Davis, investment manager at the Capital Fund, comments, ‘It’s always difficult to come up with an entirely new concept, in any sector, but that’s what Hummus Bros has managed.’
Co-founder of Hummus Bros Christian Mouysset says the company is developing a third site near St Paul’s Cathedral and hopes to open a fourth before the end of the year.
The White Circle Organisation operates eight outlets, all under the Couture brand. These fall into three categories: cafes inside public buildings such as museums and galleries; food halls; and most recently, a staff restaurant for an advertising agency based in London’s Canary Wharf.
Says MD Marc Warde: ‘We expect to be operating at 11 sites by the end of the year.’
