logo
wagamama launches new summer menu as it says 'Food is life'

wagamama launches new summer menu as it says 'Food is life'

Wales Online13-06-2025
wagamama launches new summer menu as it says 'Food is life'
The restaurant says it is the most expansive launch since it was founded in 1992
wagamama has created what it calls its most powerful and expansive launch since it was founded in 1992, Food is Life. Food is Life is 'a celebration of food's emotional power and cultural importance'.
wagamama is launching a bold new summer menu that showcases personalisation, freshness and feel-good food. Among the innovations are brand-new pho noodle soups, made with a yuzu broth and served with konjac noodles – a high-fibre, low-calorie alternative.

Guests can choose from three topping options - chicken thigh, hoki fish, or king oyster mushrooms. Each bowl is finished with red pepper, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime.

In response to increasing demand for choice and dishes that can be personalised wagamama has also introduced a build-your-own donburi. Guests can create their own bowl from protein selection and double-ups for bigger appetites to fresh toppings and vegetables of their choice. The new donburi format now includes cauliflower 'rice' as a fresh base alternative.
There are also new summer salads like sweet chilli salad with a choice of caramelised chicken or tofu, and a pad thai salad, inspired by the brand's teppanyaki dishes.
Article continues below
Steve Mangleshot, Global Executive Chef at wagamama, said: 'wagamama has always been distinctive, from our open kitchens to our communal benches, we were born different. In a world of sameness, we're doubling down on that difference. With 'Food is Life', we're reminding the world that food isn't just something you consume. It's something you feel. Something that can change your day, and even your life and it can be enjoyed anytime, any occasion."
Steve added: 'We've listened closely to what our guests want, and we're excited to introduce a summer menu that gives them more fresh and nourishing flavours like our light and fragrant phos, vibrant salads, and personalised build-your-own donburis.'
wagamama is also launching new non-alcoholic drinks including Saffron Picante, Strawberry spritz and a Kickstart juice.
Article continues below
On the dessert side, wagamama is introducing miso caramel banana bread, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce
Emma Colquhoun, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer at wagamama, said: 'Food is Life is at the heart of wagamama, it represents fresh, innovative dishes as well as the relaxed and friendly environment it is served. In a world that often moves too fast, we're championing food as a source of connection, creativity and care."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Another blow for Wagamama's founder as top restaurant loved by celebs including Rihanna & Drake is on edge of COLLAPSE
Another blow for Wagamama's founder as top restaurant loved by celebs including Rihanna & Drake is on edge of COLLAPSE

Scottish Sun

time17 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Another blow for Wagamama's founder as top restaurant loved by celebs including Rihanna & Drake is on edge of COLLAPSE

IN HOT WATER Another blow for Wagamama's founder as top restaurant loved by celebs including Rihanna & Drake is on edge of COLLAPSE Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WAGAMAMA founder Alan Yau has been dealt another major blow – as Park Chinois, the star-studded London restaurant once favoured by Rihanna and Drake, is now on the verge of collapse. The celebrity hotspot in Mayfair has appointed administrators, raising fresh fears for its future. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 It's unclear if the business will be sold, rescued, or wound down Credit: Wagamama 3 Talks around a possible sale, either to a new buyer or a connected party, are ongoing Credit: Alamy The high-end Chinese restaurant, known for its opulent interiors and A-list clientele, has been a staple of London's luxury dining scene since opening in 2015. But now, the company behind it has fallen into trouble. Official filings show Philip Armstrong of FRP Advisory has been brought in as administrator, throwing the restaurant's future into serious doubt. It's unclear if the business will be sold, rescued, or wound down. Talks around a possible sale – either to a new buyer or a connected party – are ongoing. Located in London's glitzy Mayfair district, Park Chinois was founded by Alan Yau, the renowned restaurateur behind global brands Wagamama and Hakkasan. Although Yau is no longer involved, Park Chinois is part of Island Hospitality – a group headed by Sofija Mehta. The company's portfolio includes The Duck & Rice in Soho (also a Yau creation), Italian restaurant The Dover in Mayfair, and two venues in Ibiza – Chinois Ibiza and Beachouse Ibiza. At present, none of Island Hospitality's other venues appear to be impacted by Park Chinois's financial problems. Rising costs and labour shortages hit hard In its latest accounts, covering the year up to March 2023, Park Chinois revealed it had been hammered by rising food and energy costs, along with ongoing labour shortages. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure Directors said the restaurant had been battling "inflationary pressures in its supply chain" alongside "rising utilities costs." Despite turning a modest profit of £53,000, the previous year saw a hefty loss of £1.39 million. Plans had been drawn up to expand the Park Chinois brand globally – but those ambitions now hang in the balance. Park Chinois stood out in London's crowded restaurant scene for blending fine Chinese cuisine with rich, decadent décor and nightclub-style entertainment, a formula similar to that of Yau's earlier venture, Hakkasan. It was a go-to spot for those wanting dinner with drama, where plush interiors met live jazz and DJ sets. But high operating costs, combined with post-pandemic trading pressures, appear to have taken their toll. The administration of Park Chinois comes hot on the heels of another setback for Yau's restaurant legacy. Thai restaurant group Busaba, which he founded in 1999, was placed into administration just weeks ago. It was sold in a pre-pack deal on 16 July to Seaco Investments, led by finance executive Ronald Seacombe. The move saved around 240 jobs and ensured the survival of the long-running brand, which still operates six sites in London and one in Essex. 'Extremely challenging' trading period Administrator Leonard Curtis said the company had faced an 'extremely challenging trading period' and was 'at risk of closure if a sale via administration could not be secured.' What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire FIVE years on from the pandemic and UK hospitality groups are still picking up the pieces. While restrictions and social distancing are well in the past, businesses are now dealing with a plethora of other issues such as hikes to National Insurance and customers having little money to part with at the till. Brewdog will close 10 pubs this weekend, including its flagship site in Aberdeen and a branch. Elsewhere, French-inspired brasserie Côte is being auctioned off by private equity firm Partners Group. The company is working together with Interpath Advisory to seek out fresh investors for the embattled restaurant chain, Sky News first reported. The chain has more than 70 sites across the UK, down from close to 100 shortly before it collapsed into insolvency five years 60 of its remaining sites are thought to be profitable - meaning there is a risk of more closures. Joint administrator Neil Bennett added: 'Busaba has experienced tough trading conditions over the past few years, in line with the hospitality industry in general, including the negative consequences of the cost-of-living crisis, inflation and a substantial increase in utilities costs.' Details of the deal have not been disclosed. Once a pioneer in the casual dining space, Busaba at one point operated 13 London locations and launched sites in cities like Manchester, Liverpool and St Albans – even venturing into Dubai under franchise. But nearly all of its out-of-town sites have since shut. A recent attempt to expand again into Cardiff and Oxford also failed, with both locations closing in 2023. The chain entered a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in 2020 and has now scaled back its ambitions to focus solely on London and nearby areas. Rocky roads Alan Yau, who rose to fame in the 1990s after founding Wagamama, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in British dining. But the troubles facing both Park Chinois and Busaba show how even big names aren't immune to the pressures battering the UK's hospitality sector. As soaring costs, staff shortages and squeezed customer spending continue to bite, some of London's most famous food brands are fighting to stay afloat. The Sun has approached Wagamama for comment. What does going into administration mean? WHEN a company enters into administration, all control is passed to an appointed administrator. The administrator has to leverage the company's assets and business to repay creditors any outstanding debts. Once a company enters administration, a "moratorium" is put in place which means no legal action can be taken against it. Administrators write to your creditors and Companies House to say they've been appointed. They try to stop the company from being liquidated (closing down), and if it can't it pays as much of a company's debts from its remaining assets. The administrator has eight weeks to write a statement explaining what they plan to do to move the business forward. This must be sent to creditors, employees and Companies House and invite them to approve or amend the plans at a meeting. A Notice of Intention is used to inform concerning parties that a company intends to enter administration. It is a physical document which is submitted to court, usually by directors aiming to prevent a company from being liquidated. Like with a standard administration process, a Notice of Intention stops creditors from taking out any legal action over a company while they try and rectify the business.

Kellanova misses quarterly profit estimates amid US consumer spending squeeze
Kellanova misses quarterly profit estimates amid US consumer spending squeeze

Reuters

time2 days ago

  • Reuters

Kellanova misses quarterly profit estimates amid US consumer spending squeeze

July 31 (Reuters) - Kellanova (K.N), opens new tab missed Wall Street estimates for second-quarter profit on Thursday on softening demand for its ready-to-eat breakfast items and snacks including Pringles and Pop-Tarts, as macroeconomic uncertainty pressures consumer spending. Macroeconomic volatility due to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs have impacted consumer spending in the United States, urging budget-conscious consumers to choose cheaper private labels and increasing competition for Kellanova's name brand products. Packaged foods peers Conagra Brands (CAG.N), opens new tab and General Mills (GIS.N), opens new tab also flagged weak demand going forward, following recently softening demand, while others including Kraft Heinz (KHC.O), opens new tab and Mondelez posted upbeat quarterly results. Family-owned candy giant Mars announced a $36-billion deal to buy Kellanova in August last year and has received approval from U.S. antitrust regulators, while EU counterparts opened a full-scale investigation in June. The company now expects the deal to close by the end of 2025. Kellanova is a rebrand of the Kellogg Company's global snacking business following it spinning off, opens new tab its North American cereal business into WK Kellogg (KLG.N), opens new tab in 2023. "Demand softness in most of our categories did not improve as much as we had hoped," CEO Steve Cahillane said about the quarter. "We plan to continue to lean into focused execution in the second half, even as we continue to work toward closing the Mars transaction," he said. Kellanova reported adjusted profit of 93 cents per share in the quarter, missing market expectations of 99 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. It reported net sales of $3.20 billion in the three months ended June 28, nearly in line with analysts' expectation of $3.19 billion. The company said prices fell 2.9% in the reported quarter, while organic sales volumes rose 3.2%, helped by sales in its Africa noodles business. Shares of the company were flat in premarket trading.

UK government's blunt response as scheme to get people buying more EVs is criticised
UK government's blunt response as scheme to get people buying more EVs is criticised

Daily Mirror

time2 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

UK government's blunt response as scheme to get people buying more EVs is criticised

After critics questioned the reach of the government's Electric Car Grant due to the ineligibility of a large number of models, a spokesperson hit back defending the initiative The UK government has issued a blunt response to criticism over its Electric Car Grant — a scheme cutting the cost of selected models by up to £3,750. ‌ To encourage Brits to make the switchover from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs), the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the £650 million grant, which runs for for three years and can be claimed on any eligible model costing up to £37,000. ‌ The initiative is part of the government's wider efforts to increase EV uptake, while helping the UK meet environmental targets and close in on its goal of banning the sale of new ICE cars by 2030. It comes after UK drivers were warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule. ‌ Officially launched on July 16 with the aim of making EVs more affordable for the average UK household, the most environmentally friendly and sustainably produced models qualify for the biggest price reductions. Manufacturers apply for the grant directly, and once their models are approved, customers see the discounts in dealerships. ‌ But the ECG has received mixed reactions from the automotive industry. While an expert from Auto Express welcomed the assistance for motorists switching over to EVs, they also expressed concerns regarding the scheme's reach. In a statement sent to the Mirror, head of digital content at the automotive publication, Steve Walker, said: "EV registrations have been growing steadily and are up nearly 35 per cent year on year. But there are two problems. "First, the rate of uptake still falls below the levels required by the government's ZEV mandate targets for manufacturers. Second, most of these new registrations are being driven by the fleet sector. ‌ He added: "Around 70 per cent of new EVs cost more than £40,000, yet the new grant of up to £3,750 is only available at the point of sale for cars priced at or under £37,000, meaning most models won't qualify. And, as of April, EVs priced at £40,000 or more are also no longer exempt from the expensive car 'road tax' supplement." Since April 2025, owners of EVs with a price tag of £40,000 or more have been required to pay an additional annual £410 in road tax for five years, working out at a total extra cost of £2,050. Auto Express has urged the government to rethink this. ‌ While Steve described the new grant as a 'welcome boost', he argued that to really speed up private EV adoption, the government must drop the luxury car tax for EVs while also improving access to charging points — particularly for people without access to home charging. Responding to the criticism, a Department for Transport spokesperson told the Mirror: "The price cap ensures the Electric Car Grant targets the more affordable end of the market, ensuring funding can reach as many people as possible, rather than spending taxpayer's money subsidising luxury cars. "The grant is in addition to the £63 million announced this week to support charging infrastructure, making it cheaper and easier for families, businesses and the public sector to make the switch."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store