Pasta Specialist To Create 1,500 Full Or Part Time Jobs In The UK

Pasta Evangelists, the fast-growing pasta brand, has announced plans to open 100 restaurants across the UK in the next five years, with around 1,500 new full or part time jobs expected to be created.

The company, which started in 2016 as a cook-at-home pasta delivery business, is investing more than £30 million alongside its franchise partners. At the moment, they are actively looking for new restaurant sites in the south of England, the Midlands and Scotland.

For students interested in getting a foot in the door of the catering and hospitality sector, this expansion could offer a wealth of new opportunities.

Pasta Evangelists has already hinted at launching a “Pasta Apprenticeship” scheme - a structured programme designed to attract new staff and help existing employees build skills for the future.

The Pasta Evangelists chain has grown rapidly over the last few years, moving from cook-at-home into restaurant dining.

Since opening its first Harrods counter in 2021, the company has expanded into airports, high streets and even converted its old cookery school in London’s Farringdon into a flagship restaurant and pasta academy.

With several new sites opening in London and beyond, plus ambitious growth targets throughout 2025, it looks like the firm will be creating a steady stream of entry-level roles, kitchen assistant jobs, front-of-house positions and potential apprenticeship opportunities.

Announcing the plans, Finn Lagun, the Chief Marketing Officer and a co-founder of Pasta Evangelists, said: “A big part of our success is being so much more than just a restaurant. We bring a wonderful experiential element to our restaurants, with our key offering being our famous fresh pasta-making courses.”

“Over 100,000 consumers have already learned the art of making fresh pasta at our Pasta Academy. And, with our growth plans, there is no reason why we shouldn’t eventually see over a million British people learning the art of making beautiful fresh pasta under the expert tutelage of our chefs,” added Mr Lagun.

Another co-founder of the company, Alessandro Savelli, also commented, saying: “The demand for our fresh, beautifully cooked artisan pasta is growing. Our intention is to become the UK’s fastest-growing, casual dining hot spot and the hottest place to eat for pasta lovers of all ages. We are actively looking for sites and franchise partners across the whole of the UK and welcome approaches.”

“Sustainable growth has always been our plan. The hospitality industry is going through tough times at the moment but we are confident that our business model is robust and dynamic and the proof of this is we have already bucked the trend with the confirmed opening of five more restaurants in the space of 3 months - and more to come.”

Welcoming the announcement, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Pasta Evangelists’ ambitious plans to open 100 new restaurants and create up to 1,500 jobs is great news and another vote of confidence in the UK.”

“Investment like this demonstrates the dynamism and resilience of British businesses as we deliver on our promise to grow the economy and get more money in people’s pockets,” added the Chancellor.

For students seeking flexible shifts while studying, or anyone keen to get experience in the restaurant industry, this Pasta Evangelists expansion is worth keeping on your radar.

And, of course, we’ll bring you more details as soon as we hear about them...