Reparo funds £100k expansion for Liverpool restaurant

Liverpool-based Japanese food outlet and wholesaler is expanding – with funding support from Reparo Finance.

The managing director has ambitious plans to scale their Liverpool hospitality business – to meet increasing demand from a thriving international student community.

A £100k structured loan from Reparo Finance is funding a full renovation of the retail, takeaway and café outlet in Liverpool, along with the purchase of specialist kitchen equipment and spice mixers for the business’s wholesale operation.

Jason Cossey, Operations Director at Reparo Finance, said: “It’s not easy scaling a business in this economy, especially in the hospitality sector. We’re thrilled to be supporting this business owner to take their operation to the next level.”

Spotting a gap in the market

The entrepreneurial owner drew on their own experiences as an international student in Liverpool to capitalise on a gap in the market. Like thousands of others in the city, they were looking for home comforts whilst studying but found it difficult to get good quality Japanese food in Liverpool. This is where the idea for the business first began.

The first takeaway shop found a following in 2020 thanks to the growing popularity of bubble tea. From there, the business then began serving up Japanese favourites including sushi, ramen, rice bowls and mochi to rave reviews from the local community.

The outlet has become a go-to spot for both Asian international students looking for an authentic taste of home, and for Liverpudlians wanting to experience Japanese cuisine.

Scaling a small empire

Along with the takeaway outlet, the owner has now opened a bubble tea and Japanese-style café as well as supplying wholesale spices to restaurants, takeaways and individuals across the North West.

With culinary equipment sometimes costing £1000s per item and requiring shipment from overseas, this cash injection from Reparo will provide the business with the working capital to buy more stock and expand its wholesale operation.

Liam Meehan, Senior Business Finance Specialist at Funding Options by Tide, who acted as the broker on this deal, said: “For a new entrepreneur who has a clear plan for growth, a storybook lender like Reparo Finance was the perfect fit. The team made an excellent offer to support the business’s expansion plans. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next!”

Over the coming years, with more than 750,000 overseas students studying in the UK, the owner plans to open more takeaway sites near every major university.

Find out more about Reparo’s secured term loans here: reparofinance.co.uk/reparo-structured/