Independent fast food chain Friska is to open its first outlet in Birmingham it has been announced.
The award winning company plans to open its latest eatery in a 1700 sq ft unit spread across the ground floor and mezzanine of the 13 storey Eleven Brindleyplace building in February 2016 with initial plans to employ a team of six including a kitchen manager and store manager.
The company, which was founded in 2009, is the brainchild of Griff Holland and Ed Brown, and now operates at six sites across Bristol, with ambitious plans to expand nationwide over the next five years.
Griff Holland, founder of Friska, said: “We’re really excited to be opening our first store outside Bristol and Birmingham was the obvious destination. Brindleyplace is a thriving business location, with a vibrant social scene around its central square. All we thought was missing was a friendly, fresh and delicious place that people could really call their “local” for breakfast, lunch and great specialty coffee – that’s where we come in.
“We’re focused on continuing our successful growth in 2016 and are confident that Brindley Place will be the first of many Friskas in Birmingham.”
Jonathan Lawes, director at Cube Real Estate, the asset managers of Eleven Brindleyplace building, said: “Friska is a thoroughly modern business with exciting plans to take its unique brand of food and beverages across the country and we’re pleased to see it come to Birmingham.“
“In Eleven Brindleyplace, Friska has chosen a prime business location in the heart of the city. The building already has a number of high profile tenants, and hundreds of workers coming through the doors every day. We’re confident that with the first rate facilities and bustling location, Friska has found the perfect environment to thrive.”
In 2014, Friska was named Observer Food Monthly’s Best Ethical Restaurant, and was runner up in the Guardian’s Sustainable Business Award. It also uses 100% renewable energy and sends zero waste to landfill. It offers a wide range of breakfast and lunch options from bacon toasties and wraps, to Vietnamese noodles, their signature HotBox and specialty coffee and cakes.
The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated Eleven Brindleyplace was first opened in 2008 and is currently home to tenants including Colliers International, Capita Symonds and Global Radio.
Friska has signed a five-year lease at Eleven Brindleyplace. It was represented in the transaction by James Woodward of Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP. Bilfinger GVA acted on behalf of the landlord.