16 February 2024
A nationwide chain of Thai restaurants has chosen Leicester as the location for its main distribution network throughout the UK.
A trading name of Chokdee Limited, which itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of Giggling Restaurants Limited; the group has recently taken occupation of a warehouse unit at Elland Road Leicester for use as a menu development facility and new product development kitchen, as well as a training and national distribution centre.
Andrew + Ashwell, leading Leicester-based commercial property specialist, has secured the deal for the lease of the building. This comprises almost 45,000 sq ft of prime modern warehouse accommodation on the well-established Braunstone Frith Industrial Estate, three miles west of the city centre.
Located close to Leicester’s Outer Ring Road, as well as M1 motorway Junctions 21 and 21A, the unit includes single-storey warehousing and open-plan two-storey offices, together with ample parking, on a prominent corner site on the west side of the estate.
Giggling Squid specialises in creating original Thai dishes using the diverse ingredients found across Thailand. The first Giggling Squid restaurant opened in 2002 and the brand continues to expand, with almost 50 restaurants nationwide, including Leicester, employing more than 1,500 directly contracted, rather than agency, staff.
The supply chain includes sellers of direct ingredients and wholesalers from the UK and worldwide, as well as suppliers of business necessities, including office supplies and technical support.
Refurbishment of the new building is currently underway, with the completed hub set to be up and running by the end of March. The group also aims to recruit 20 new employees from the Leicester community.
On behalf of the group as a whole, Vikas Agarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “The Elland Road unit is part of an exciting phase in the growth of our business. From menu development, to training our teams, as well as distributing our fantastic Thai ingredients to our restaurants, it is ideally located to become the hub for our operations.”
Mike Allwood, A+A Partner, added: “Leicester is an ideal location for an expanding organisation, as it is strategically sited for easy nationwide distribution and conveniently located as a central link for the company’s restaurants across the UK. Giggling Squid has chosen well and we wish the group every success in this important venture that should boost their business even further.”