Deliveroo and Sessions say that Chick’n’Sours - which launched in 2015 and operates bricks and mortar restaurants in Covent Garden and East London’s Haggerston - is the first of a number of ‘top-performing emerging’ food businesses that will be scaled up using the former’s ‘delivery network and expertise’ and the latter’s ‘distribution and insight’
The partnership will pinpoint ‘high-potential trade zones’, which are defined as areas with ‘strong consumer demand yet untapped opportunity’.
Chick’n’Sours - which is known for its fried chicken with strong Asian influences, and sour cocktails - is now available from Sessions-run kitchens in Finchley, Fulham and Kilburn but will soon see the brand leave the capital for the first time.
Sessions has a network of over 350 delivery-only kitchens which it says means that brands can ‘rapidly launch in new locations through its network of bringing exceptional food experiences to more consumers than ever before’.
As part of the deal Chick’n’Sours - which recently celebrated its 10th birthday - become exclusive to the Deliveroo platform.
“Our fundamental aim is to support restaurants to grow and thrive so we are excited to test a new way of working with Sessions to support exciting exclusive brands to test new locations and scale,” says Jessica Markowski, director for Deliveroo London and Deliveroo Editions.
David Wolanski, Chick ‘n’ Sours founder, added: “We’re starting slow with a trial in select London locations, focusing on areas where our customers have expressed the most demand. We’ll use this as an opportunity to test and grow, seeing where this partnership can take us.”
Dan Warne, CEO of Sessions, added: ‘As the former MD of Deliveroo’s UK business and an early employee of Will (shu, Deliveroo’s founder, I know well the quality obsession that built and continues to build that business.”
“At Sessions we share that ethos, and with our new Icon programme, we are raising the bar with the brands we’re bringing to market, starting with Chick’n’sours, a brand that couldn’t better embody what we’re trying to do here.”