Carluccio's
A British Italian restaurant and café brand founded by Antonio Carluccio and later acquired by Boparan Restaurant Group.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Carluccio's is a United Kingdom-based Italian restaurant and café brand associated with Italian food retail, casual dining, coffee, and deli-style offerings. The business originated in 1991, when Italian chef, restaurateur, and food writer Antonio Carluccio and his then wife opened an Italian food shop. The original retail concept established the brand around Italian ingredients and prepared foods before the business developed into a larger restaurant operation. The first Carluccio's Caffè opened in 1999 at Market Place in London. From that initial café, the company expanded through southeast England and subsequently across the United Kingdom. Its format combined an Italian restaurant with café and food-shop characteristics, offering customers meals and refreshments for on-site consumption alongside Italian-inspired retail products. The brand's identity was closely connected to Antonio Carluccio's public reputation and to a broadly accessible interpretation of Italian cuisine rather than a narrowly formal fine-dining proposition. Carluccio's became a public company on the Alternative Investment Market in 2005. In 2010, Dubai-based Landmark Group made a takeover offer valuing the company at £90 million. Shareholders approved the transaction, which was completed in October of that year. The acquisition moved the business away from independent public-market ownership and into a larger international retail and hospitality group. By March 2018, Carluccio's had appointed KPMG for financial advice while considering strategic options. The reference material identifies high operating costs and increased competition in the restaurant sector as pressures on the business. The COVID-19 pandemic then created an immediate operational crisis. Following United Kingdom government guidance, the chain temporarily closed its restaurants on 20 March 2020. Ten days later, on 30 March, the company entered administration, placing approximately 2,000 jobs at risk. Administrators considered options including government-supported suspension of operations and the sale of all or parts of the business. On 22 May 2020, Boparan Restaurant Group announced that it would acquire the Carluccio's brand and take over 30 of the chain's 71 outlets. The remaining locations closed. Under its new ownership, the brand continued as a smaller estate rather than preserving the full pre-administration network. In June 2021, Boparan announced plans to open 500 new restaurants over five years under the Caffè Carluccio's format, indicating an intention to rebuild and extend the business through a café-led model. Today, Carluccio's is best understood as an active UK Italian restaurant and café brand operating under Boparan Restaurant Group. Its history spans food retail, branded casual dining, public-company ownership, acquisition by Landmark Group, financial restructuring, administration during the pandemic, and a subsequent acquisition and expansion strategy under Boparan. The brand's current scale, exact outlet count, leadership structure, and official website are not established by the supplied reference material.
History
Carluccio's began in 1991 as an Italian food shop opened by Antonio Carluccio and his then wife. The shop established the business's initial connection with Italian ingredients, prepared foods, and the culinary identity associated with Carluccio's name. The brand later moved beyond food retail into a restaurant and café model. In 1999, the first Carluccio's Caffè opened at Market Place in London. The format helped define the company as an Italian casual-dining and café operator, combining restaurant service with coffee and food-shop characteristics. The chain first expanded through southeast England and later developed a broader UK presence. The company became a public company in 2005 when it listed on the Alternative Investment Market. Its public-company period ended after Landmark Group, a Dubai-based enterprise, made a takeover offer in 2010 valuing Carluccio's at £90 million. Shareholders approved the transaction, and the acquisition was completed in October 2010. The company faced increasing financial and competitive pressure later in the decade. In March 2018, it engaged KPMG to provide financial advice concerning possible options. The cited pressures included high costs and stronger competition across the restaurant sector. The supplied material does not specify the full set of restructuring measures considered at that time. The COVID-19 pandemic produced a sharper crisis. On 20 March 2020, Carluccio's temporarily closed its restaurants in response to United Kingdom government guidance affecting bars and restaurants. The company entered administration on 30 March, placing around 2,000 jobs at risk. Administrators examined alternatives that included suspending operations with government support and selling the business in whole or in parts. On 22 May 2020, Boparan Restaurant Group announced that it would acquire the Carluccio's brand and operate 30 of the chain's 71 outlets. The other locations closed, substantially reducing the estate. The acquisition preserved the brand while transferring it into Boparan's restaurant portfolio. In June 2021, Boparan announced an expansion plan involving 500 new restaurants over five years under the Caffè Carluccio's name. This plan signalled a café-oriented growth strategy following the administration and acquisition. Carluccio's therefore developed from a London Italian food shop into a UK restaurant chain, passed through public ownership and two major ownership transitions, and survived a pandemic-era administration through acquisition by Boparan Restaurant Group.
- 2021
Caffè Carluccio's growth plan announced
[1]Boparan announced plans for 500 new restaurants over five years under the Caffè Carluccio's format.
- 2020
Administration and partial acquisition
[1]After pandemic-related closures and administration, Boparan Restaurant Group acquired the brand and 30 of 71 outlets.
- 2018
KPMG engaged for financial advice
[1]Carluccio's brought in KPMG to advise on possible options amid high costs and increased industry competition.
- 2010
Landmark Group takeover completed
[1]Landmark Group's takeover, valued at £90 million, was approved by shareholders and completed in October.
- 2005
Alternative Investment Market listing
[1]Carluccio's became a public company through a listing on the Alternative Investment Market.
- 1999
First Carluccio's Caffè opens
[1]The first Carluccio's Caffè opened at Market Place in London.
- 1991
Italian food shop opens
[1]Antonio Carluccio and his then wife opened an Italian food shop, establishing the business that became Carluccio's.
Products and positioning
Accessible Italian casual dining combined with café service and Italian food retail.
Italian casual dining · 1999
Carluccio's restaurant dining
The core Carluccio's offer is Italian casual dining served in branded restaurants. The format developed from the original food-shop concept and was designed to provide accessible Italian meals in a less formal setting than fine dining. The supplied material does not provide a complete menu or identify specific signature dishes.
Café · 1999
Caffè Carluccio's
Caffè Carluccio's is the café-led format associated with the brand's first dedicated café, opened in London in 1999. It combines coffee and refreshments with Italian food and casual hospitality. Following the 2020 acquisition, Boparan identified this format as the basis for a planned large-scale expansion.
Italian food retail · 1991
Carluccio's Italian food shop and deli range
The brand originated as an Italian food shop, and its early identity included Italian ingredients and food-shop products. This retail heritage remained part of Carluccio's broader restaurant-and-deli positioning, although the supplied reference does not specify current packaged products, suppliers, or exact assortment.
Brand decisions
2021
Plan expansion through Caffè Carluccio'sStrategyBackground
After acquiring the brand and a reduced number of outlets, Boparan outlined a route for renewed growth.
Action taken
Boparan announced plans to open 500 new restaurants over five years under the Caffè Carluccio's name.
Aftermath
The announcement positioned the café format as the principal vehicle for the brand's planned expansion.
2020
Enter administration during the COVID-19 crisisOtherBackground
The company closed its restaurants after United Kingdom government guidance and faced severe pandemic-related disruption.
Action taken
Carluccio's entered administration on 30 March while administrators explored government-supported suspension and sale options.
Aftermath
Approximately 2,000 jobs were put at risk, and the brand was subsequently acquired by Boparan Restaurant Group.
2020
Sell brand and selected outlets to BoparanM&ABackground
Following administration, administrators assessed options for preserving all or parts of the business.
Action taken
Boparan Restaurant Group acquired the Carluccio's brand and took over 30 of 71 outlets.
Aftermath
The remaining outlets closed, leaving the brand with a smaller operating estate under new ownership.
2010
Accept Landmark Group takeoverM&ABackground
Carluccio's received a takeover offer from Dubai-based Landmark Group valuing the company at £90 million.
Action taken
Shareholders approved the transaction, which was completed in October 2010.
Aftermath
Carluccio's moved from independent public-company ownership into Landmark Group.
Takeover valuation. £90 million valuation (2010)
Recent events
Jet2 partners with Carluccio’s to offer an inflight snack box[2]
Reported:
Jet2 partnered with Italian restaurant brand Carluccio’s to launch an Italian snack box for Jet2’s inflight dining menu. The box includes a voucher for discounts at Carluccio’s restaurants and delis and its online store.
Sources2 sources
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