Thread: The Giggling Squid

Always good to see a success story, I have eaten in their Brighton restaurant many times. Never been dissapointed. Good luck to a Thai - Brit partnership.

Hove-founded restaurant group set for national expansion with multimillion-pound investment (From The Argus)

Difficult to manage one restaurant of Thai staff, let alone 13. They must have some very good managers. Further kudos to the couple if all the staff are Thai.
That BGF is a nice touch, good luck to them.

From the site...

A RESTAURANT group founded in Hove has won £6.4 million investment to expand across the country.

Leading Thai group Giggling Squid secured investment from BGF (Business Growth Fund).


The group already has 13 branches across the South of England, and will use the funds to add further locations to its portfolio.


Headquartered in Guildford, the business is run by Brighton-based Andy and Pranee Laurillard, who opened the first Giggling Squid in Hove.

It was followed by further restaurants in Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Henley, Reigate , Crawley and Horsham.

Over the past two years the pace of growth has accelerated, with three openings in 2014 and a further four so far this year, in Bristol, Salisbury, Billericay and Guildford.

A further 1,000 jobs nationally are expected to be created as a result of the company’s expansion over the next four years.

The business employs around 300 staff across its thirteen sites and is expected to generate revenue in excess of £12 million this year.

Andy Laurillard said: “This is a really important step for Giggling Squid as we look to expand our brand across the country. We are now well funded and in a strong position for growth.

"This is a growing, dynamic company and it is an exciting time for Giggling Squid and for all of our employees. Thai cuisine is an under served segment of the market and we have the opportunity to create a truly national brand providing great Thai food. It’s a good time to be part of that story.”

BGF has taken a minority equity stake in the business and introduced Simon Kossoff, chairman and former chief executive of Carluccio’s to the company.

Simon has joined the board as non-executive chairman and BGF investor Jon Simon has also joined the board.

BGF provides growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses with initial investments of between £2 million and £10 million.

The investment provided is typically in the form of equity in return for a minority equity stake and a seat on the board for a BGF director.