Abokado

Abokado
TypePrivate
IndustryFast food
Founded2004
FoundersMark Lilley
Lindsay Lilley
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Area served
London
Key peopleMark Lilley (CEO)
ProductsSushi, salads, sandwiches, Coffee
OwnerMontway Holdings Ltd
Websitewww.abokado.com
Abokado toasted bagel with scrambled eggs and roasted tomato

Abokado is a fast food chain based in the United Kingdom. It markets itself as being a fast food chain focused on sustainability and healthy eating. Abokado is known for its poke, sushi, salads, and noodle bowls and claims to be "Pacific-inspired."

History

The chain was founded by Mark Lilley and his wife Lindsay in 2004, with the first store opening in London's Covent Garden.

As of September 2015, it had 26 stores in London. In September 2015, Mark Lilley, director of Abokado, announced that they would be following Jamie Oliver's example and introduce a sugar tax on sweetened drinks sold in the chain.

In 2019, the company announced it will be launching a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), after having suffered a "significant sophisticated online banking fraud" in July. At present, it is unclear how many sites of the brand will be closed under the CVA.

The company was sold in a pre-pack administration in October 2020; as a result of the impact of COVID-19. Founder Mark Lilley is CEO of the new owners, Montway Holdings Ltd.

Food

Abokado's food is focused on health-conscious eating, sustainability, and customizability. It offers bowls like poke, salad, and noodles that are customizable to a consumer's preferences. Although it markets itself as Pacific-inspired food, it offers a wide variety of global cuisines.

Abokado made news in 2019 for featuring edible crickets from Eat Grub as a salad topper or side on its menu. It became the first UK-based chain to have edible insects on its main menu.

References

  1. 1 2 Hansen, James (10 September 2019). "Poke, Sushi, and Noodle Chain Abokado Will Close Shops After 'Banking Fraud'". Eater London. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Brand Insight: Abokado". lbbonline.com.
  3. ↑ "MCR – Abokado". mcr-systems.co.uk.
  4. ↑ Sarah Boseley (3 September 2015). "Jamie Oliver's sugar tax campaign joined by Abokado". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Abokado falls victim to bank fraud & launches CVA". caterlyst.com. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  6. ↑ Stagg, James (10 September 2019). "Abokado to enter CVA after banking fraud magnifies poor sales". The Caterer. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Abokado appoints administrators with 150 jobs lost". restaurantonline.co.uk. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  8. ↑ Smithers, Rebecca (12 May 2019). "Grub's up: roasted crickets to go on sale at London food chain". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Houser, Kristin (13 May 2019). "This UK fast food chain wants people to eat crunchy bugs". Futurism. Retrieved 17 October 2026.