The DRG, which owns the Di Maggio’s, Café Andaluz and Amarone chains, has bought the town’s two Paesano Pizza restaurants and the Sugo Pasta shop for an eight-figure sum, our sister title The Herald reports.
And the hospitality giant immediately announced plans to expand both brands, despite the challenging economic backdrop.
The DRG, owned by Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, has bought the business from restaurateur Paul Stevenson, whose vision for Paesano was to bring authentic Neapolitan pizza to Scotland. He opened the first Paesano on Miller Street in 2015, which was followed two years later by a sister store on Great Western Road. The Sugo Pasta brand launched on Miller Street in 2019.
READ NEXT: Popular bakery opens brand new store in Glasgow – and it’s happening soon
All three restaurants have been major success stories and are among the busiest in the country, serving around 22,000 guests per week. The Sugo with 250 covers serves more than 12,000 people per week.
Now DRG is planning to expand their reach even further as bosses have revealed their intention to open outlets under both brands in other locations.
Mr Stevenson said the sale of the restaurants to The DRG would allow the brands to expand while maintaining the ethos and family ownership under which they have thrived.
The three restaurants collectively employ more than 230 staff, all of whom are now members of The DRG and achieved a combined turnover of over £15 million last year.
Mr Stevenson told our sister title The Herald: “I have had numerous approaches over the years from a wide variety of potential buyers, including private equity groups and other major restaurant chains.
“However, having known the guys from The DRG for over twenty years, it quickly became clear that they were a perfect fit to take Paesano and Sugo to the next phase of their growth.
“Paesano and Sugo have absolutely exceeded all expectations we had of them when we first launched the company almost a decade ago.
READ NEXT: ‘End of an era’: Glasgow restaurant reveals future plans
“After visiting Italy and tasting the phenomenally high quality of authentic Neapolitan pizzas, I decided to introduce that concept to Scotland, religiously focusing on the provenance of the product and authentic, regional Italian recipes.
“In essence it is a very simple offering, but the quality of the products and ingredients we use, together with the craftsmanship of experienced Neapolitan chefs, has proven to be a phenomenal combination.
“We currently serve approximately 22,000 people per week across the three restaurants and I am very much looking forward to seeing how Tony and Mario grow the business while retaining everything that makes Sugo and Paesano so special.”
The DRG was formed with the opening of Di Maggio’s in Shawlands on Glasgow’s south side in 1985, and is now one of Scotland’s largest independent restaurant groups, with more than 20 locations in its stable before the latest takeover. In addition to the Di Maggio’s, Café Andaluz and Amarone brands, it has restaurants trading as The Anchor Line, Barolo, Cadiz and The Citizen. Earlier this year, the company announced its plans to move to London.
Recent moves include a £1.5 million investment to open a third Café Andaluz in Edinburgh in the stands of Edinburgh Accies rugby club in Stockbridge. There are now seven branches operating under the Café Andaluz brand, which was launched in Glasgow in 2002.
Mr Gizzi said: “In our conversations with Paul it quickly became clear that we shared a clear vision to bring the Paesano and Sugo experience to more locations.
“We have repeatedly demonstrated our ability to expand exciting restaurant concepts in a planned and successful manner, and it will be very exciting to do the same for Paesano and Sugo. They are brilliant brands – everything from the signage to the interior, and especially the food, is absolutely perfect.”
Mr Conetta commented: “We have watched with admiration how Paul has built the restaurants into powerful brands in a hugely competitive market and are very pleased that he will remain on board as an advisor as we develop our plans to expand Paesano and Sugo more widely roll. .”
Mr Stevenson added: “I know the business is in very safe hands and that Tony and Mario will really look after it. We have great staff and a hugely committed management team in the business and they will undoubtedly have many more opportunities to grow within the larger DRG business.
“It’s extremely exciting and I can’t wait to see how the company develops in the coming years.”
CDLH’s Alan Creevy and Peter Darroch were tasked by Paul Stevenson to help broker the deal between the parties.
Mr Darroch said: “It was a pleasure to be part of this inspired transaction and our congratulations to Tony, Mario and Paul for closing a deal in a very expeditious timeframe.”