The Caterer – News – Wingstop UK hires former TRG acquisitions chief amid ‘strong growth’

Wingstop UK has hired former TRG (The Restaurant Group) executive Adrian Saunders as its head of acquisitions as part of an ambitious plan to launch its fried chicken brand.

The Texas-based chicken wing company opened its first UK location in 2018 under Lemon Pepper Holdings and has since expanded to more than 45 locations across the country.

The company currently plans to open 18 more locations this year, with further expansion planned for 2025.

The company plans to target further sites in “high-traffic areas” such as high streets, shopping centres and retail parks.

Previously, Saunders led the acquisition of approximately 90 TRG restaurants from the Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito portfolios, which were subsequently sold to Café Rouge owner Big Table Group.

He also acquired 45 high street and shopping mall sites for the Wagamama restaurant chain, including the pan-Asian casual dining chain’s first outpost in New York.

In 2018, he participated in the restructuring of Byron Hamburgers under a Collective Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which enabled the sale of the business and the saving of over 1,000 jobs.

She will now work closely with Mark Segal of commercial property specialist Brasier Freeth, which has been the exclusive partner behind Wingstop UK’s expansion plans for the past four years.

Saunders said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Wingstop UK at such a pivotal time in the brand’s journey. The momentum Wingstop has built in the UK is phenomenal and I can’t wait to leverage my experience in driving growth and securing prime locations to take the brand to the next level.”

Chris Sherriff, CEO of Wingstop UK, added: “Adrian’s impressive track record in the restaurant sector and strategic insight make him an ideal addition to our team. We are on a strong growth trajectory, with 18 new sites set to open this year and a very healthy pipeline for 2025. Adrian’s expertise will be invaluable as we look to launch even more sites across the UK.”

In 2022, Lemon Pepper Holdings, Wingstop’s UK master franchisee, secured a multi-million pound loan to fund further expansion.

Last month, it was reported that Lemon Pepper Holdings had hired asset manager Goldman Sachs to organize the sale of the business, according to Sky News.