Jamie Oliver’s Joburg restaurant launch window
Melrose Arch has announced that celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant will be opening its doors in the “latter part of 2016” – with other locations in South Africa being considered.
Melrose Arch, owned by the Amdec group, confirmed in late January that it was in talks with Oliver’s team to bring the brand to South Africa.
The contract talks have now concluded, Oliver will be teaming with Whisky Creek Brands to bring Jamie’s Italian to Joburg in 2016.
Justin Divaris, Stephen Gersowsky and Symeon Yiallouris are the executive directors of Whisky Creek and will be the exclusive operating partner for Jamie’s Italian in South Africa.
Jamie’s Italian was founded in 2008 and has 42 branches worldwide. In true Jamie Oliver fashion, the meals celebrate “rustic” Italian cuisine.
While this is Jamie Oliver’s first branded presence in South Africa, the country is home to a few restaurants with chefs that trained under him, including Giulio’s Café in Cape Town, in InFoods in Jeffery’s Bay.
Explaining the approach to his Italian restaurants, Oliver said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Italy – I love the passion of its people, the simplicity of their cooking, the incredible produce and the big flavours.”
“I never fail to get excited about it. There’s nothing Italians love more than cooking an incredible meal and sitting down with the whole family to enjoy it, no matter how rich or poor they may be. And that’s what we’re all about – making good food accessible and affordable for everyone.”
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