Toridoll assumes full ownership of Marugame Udon

Four years after joining forces to launch Marugame Udon in the UK, Capdesia Group has successfully exited its investment in the company, with Toridoll Holdings now assuming full ownership. 

The transition will see Toridoll, Marugame's parent company, take full ownership of the brand's European estate, while continuing to collaborate with Capdesia as co-investors in the Fulham Shore Group and its Franco Manca and The Real Greek concepts. 

As part of the move, CEO and Capdesia operating partner Keith Bird will hand over to finance director Sam McIntyre, who will step up to lead the business in the interim and take Marugame Udon into its next chapter, building on the groundwork laid by Capdesia and Mr Bird. 

Journey to the UK

Both Capdesia and Bird leave a legacy of significant achievements for Marugame in the UK. From a standing start, the brand has grown to 10 successful stores in and around London within three years. Under Bird's leadership, the UK team effectively navigated the challenges of launching during the Coronovirus pandemic and subsequent economic headwinds, earning prestigious accolades such as the R200 Best Value Restaurant award in 2022, Best Employee Recognition Programme at the QSR Media Awards 2024 and the Launch Campaign of the Year at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards 2024. 

"It has been an incredible journey bringing Marugame Udon to the UK," says Bird. "The dedication and passion of our team have been instrumental in establishing the brand and creating a solid foundation for future growth. I am confident that under Sam McIntyre's leadership, Marugame Udon will continue to thrive and expand and deliver on its mission to bring udon to all."

Takashi Sugiyama, executive vice president and COO of Toridoll Holdings, adds: "We are grateful to Capdesia, Keith and their respective teams for their efforts in launching our flagship brand in the UK successfully. In this journey, several new best practices have been developed jointly for the benefit of Marugame Udon globally in areas such as systems, people, culture, restaurant design, marketing and CRM. These improvements have positioned us for growth and to continue with our UK and European expansion ambitions."

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