Roadside operator becomes Chopstix’s largest franchise partner
Motorway service area operator Welcome Break has become the largest franchise partner of pan-Asian quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Chopstix.
The two groups have opened their third site in as many months at Corley South (M6) services in Warwickshire this week.
This follows successful openings at Welcome Break Newport Pagnell North (M1) in Buckinghamshire and Welcome Break Membury West (M4) services in Berkshire at the end of 2023.
Welcome Break has worked with Chopstix franchise director Aaron Moore-Saxton in recent years to identify suitable Welcome Break locations for new Chopstix units. Under the agreement, the franchisee oversees the full management of all sites.
Expansion through franchisees has been a key part of Chopstix’s expansion since Moore-Saxton’s appointment as Franchise Director in 2022.
Now the largest Asian-inspired QSR brand in the UK, Chopstix is aiming to become the largest Asian QSR on the continent. Expansion is expected to ramp-up over the next three years to meet the brand’s aim to reach 300 sites across Europe by 2027.
Aaron Moore-Saxton, Chopstix franchise director said, “We are delighted to open another site with what is now our biggest franchise partner. Welcome Break’s success with Chopstix is highly encouraging – the newest units in Newport Pagnell and Membury are already delivering impressive returns, and I have no doubt Corley will bring similar results. Welcome Break are an ideal partner for our brand and we’re excited to explore future opportunities with them in the future.”
Adrian Grimes, Welcome Break commercial director, said, “We are thrilled to be strengthening our partnership with Chopstix with the opening of our newest site in Corley South. Chopstix performs consistently well across our portfolio, so we’re confident Corley South will deliver similar success. Chopstix provides a point of difference to our existing food and drink offer and we can see it is something our customers respond positively to.”