A GLASGOW-based fish and chip shop firm has invested £600,000 in a new outlet in Stirling, serving up 20 new jobs in the process.
The Stirling venture is Blue Lagoon's first opening outside Glasgow and the west coast, and Angelo Varese from the family-owned firm said it was eyeing further expansion, saying: “We’re always looking for opportunities to expand”.
The last two years has seen expansion into Ayr and Largs, and the Stirling opening takes its shop count to 12.
Funding support for the 60-seater restaurant as well as a delivery and takeaway offering came from Clydesdale Bank, with Thomas McPake from the Bank’s Glasgow customer banking centre facilitating the deal.
The site is a former pub that had been closed for a year, meaning a considerable amount of work was required to make it fit for purpose.
“We felt that Stirling town centre was missing a high-quality fish and chip shop where people could sit down and enjoy a proper fish tea,” said Mr Varese.
The Blue Lagoon chain was founded in the early 1970s by Italian-born Ersilio Varese, and has been passed on to his son Angelo Varese. Angelo’s sons Simone, Alessandro and Gianluca are all directors of the firm, which retained a profit of £300,000 last year.
The family operates five of the shops, in Argyle Street and Gordon St in Glasgow, and the recently opened Largs, Ayr and Stirling branches. The remaining seven operate as franchises.
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