For the first time since its launch in 2004, Abokado has moved outside of its heartland of central London to open a new store in Hammersmith, West London and is the first site to trade at weekends. It has substantial seating to cater for the retail and residential customer base.
The company said that the move to Hammersmith demonstrated its ability to stretch beyond the city and attract a different customer mix. This follows a continued investment over the past few years to stretch the day part beyond lunch into the morning and evening.
40% of customer visits are now outside of lunchtime, driven principally by breakfast and coffee sales. Abokado’s customer base has also broadened considerably over time, thanks to the success of ranges such as Poke salads and yakisoba noodles, such that the core range of sushi now represents only 20% of total sales.
The company’s new store also features a refreshed look, developed over the past year in tandem with London design agency Mystery. The updated design has a comfortable, calm and elevated feel and is centred around Abokado’s core philosophy of a Pacific-flavours inspired menu that brings a shot of positivity to your day.
Operations Director Kara Alderin said, “Our arrival in Hammersmith marks an exciting time for the business, stepping into a new territory outside of our Zone 1 heartland. We’re delighted to be trading ahead of expectations, with a fresh brand feel and trading space designed for all day parts. It’s been great to see such high levels of interest from day one, and we look forward to establishing a loyal brand following in the local community.”
Over the past 14 years Abokado has grown to become one of London’s leading healthy eating chains selling crafted coffee, toasted breakfast bagels, freshly made sushi, salads, hot pots and more.
