Virtual Hero to reach 200 locations by end of 2022
The group recently appointed Salman Siddiqui as its new group corporate development director at the start of 2022, as well as Andrew Brattesani, head of franchising at HSBC, as board advisor to support their leadership team
Virtual Hero is reportedly headed for huge growth as it announced a collaboration with YouTube supergroup, The Sidemen. They are responsible for creating the fried chicken brand, Sides, which is available across the UK and Middle East.
Sides is reportedly on course to establish a further 50 locations in the UK, alongside its existing branches in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Southampton. The brand also recently launched its first physical location at BOXPARK Wembley in February 2022 as part of its sustained growth.
The brand will be sold exclusively online and will reportedly be available on major food delivery platforms, UberEats and Deliveroo, by the end of this year.
Virtual Hero plans to open 200 Side sites across the globe by the end of 2022, as it is now “looking to make an impact” in the US with 40 sites set to launch across the country. Sides will soon be available in Atlanta, San Diego, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Washington, Portland, Memphis, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Detroit.
Sides is part of Virtual Hero, owned by Hero Brands, the company behind German Doner Kebab, Choppaluna, and Island Poké.
The group recently appointed Salman Siddiqui as its new group corporate development director at the start of 2022. Andrew Brattesani, head of franchising at HSBC, has also joined as board advisor to support the leadership team.
Robin Mehta, Virtual Hero CEO, said: “I am thrilled to announce that, not only are we on track for our strong growth strategy in the UK after a great opening year, but that we are also launching a rapid expansion project in the US.
“At Virtual Hero we are responding to emerging consumer trends in this fast-growing market and building the virtual brands of the future. Our sustained growth in the UK displays the demand for delivery-only, fast-casual food still exists post-pandemic. Our business model allows us to quickly respond to this call across the nation.”
He added: “To close the year with 50 sites in the UK shows how far the brand has grown in its first year and is a testament to the popularity of the Sidemen.
“The Sidemen are representative of exciting and relevant British talent being at the forefront of new trends and the expansion of Sides shows that this collaborative concept not only works but thrives.”
