Jamie Oliver to expand restaurants abroad after UK collapse

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PA

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is to open more restaurants abroad, six months after he was forced to close most of his UK operations.

Jamie Oliver Group has said international franchisees plan to open 21 new Jamie Oliver-branded restaurants by the end of 2020.

At least two of those restaurants will be under a new casual dining brand called Jamie Oliver Kitchen.

In May, the UK business fell into administration, with 1,000 jobs lost.

However, while the UK group – which included the Jamie’s Italian chain, Barbecoa and Fifteen – collapsed, the international businesses stayed afloat.

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Getty Images

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UK branches of Jamie’s Italian closed in May

New Jamie Oliver Kitchen restaurants are due to open in Bali and Bangkok by the end of November and will be run by group franchise partner HPL.

The two new restaurants will open in repurposed Jamie’s Italian premises.

Nineteen further restaurants will open abroad next year under various brands, including Jamie’s Italian, Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria, Jamie’s Deli and Jamie Oliver’s Diner. The firm did not say where they would be based.

Mr Oliver said in a statement: “Over the past 20 years, I have travelled around the world to discover exciting flavour combinations, picking up incredible influences along the way.

“The new restaurants will bring those inspirations to life and serve some of my absolute all-time favourites.”

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