Wimpy News
Read all about what’s new
in the world of Wimpy!
Black Mirror takes Wimpy fans back to the 80s
Many Eagle-eyed viewers noticed Wimpy featured in the new Black Mirror episode which launched on Netflix over the festive holidays.
Set in 1984, Bandersnatch is an interactive film with multiple endings and features brief glimpses of many popular brands loved by the British public during that decade.
The exterior of a Wimpy restaurant featured in the episode was authentically recreated by the Black Mirror production team from archive photos supplied by Wimpy.
Wimpy Gets That Saucy Feeling
Sauce lovers are in for a treat as Wimpy launches its iconic own-brand Wimpy Special Sauce and Wimpy Tomato Ketchup onto the retail market for the first time. The 500ml bottles will be available to buy in Wimpy restaurants from 19 November 2018.
Wimpy General Manager, Chris Woolfenden, said: “Our Special Sauce and Ketchup have added the proverbial ‘icing on the cake’ to our breakfasts, burgers and grills for decades. Customers are always asking why they can’t buy a bottle and we finally decided it was time offer them as an early Christmas treat.
“We love the fact we’re extending the Wimpy brand into peoples’ homes and believe that with such a great heritage behind us, we’ll soon be a kitchen staple, giving everyone the chance to enjoy a taste of Wimpy whenever they want to.”
Launched in 1989 with a secret recipe, over 25,000 litres of Wimpy Special Sauce are used in the UK’s casual dining chain restaurants every year, while Wimpy Tomato Ketchup has been a true family favourite since day one, with more than 35,000 litres used in Wimpy’s UK restaurants every year.
Paper straws rolled out across wimpy restaurants
Wimpy UK is to replace all plastic straws across all its restaurants with bio-degradable paper straws from 1 January 2019.
The move reinforces the company’s commitment to reducing non-recyclable waste across its 74-restaurant estate and have already started phasing in paper straws at multiple sites.
Chris Woolfenden, general manager of Wimpy UK, said: “We’re making good on the promise we made earlier this year to source a sustainable and suitable alternative to plastic straws. We are delighted to have come up with a solution which we believe will go down extremely well with customers and adds a big tick to our sustainability goals.”
The brightly-coloured red and white paper straws are made from FSC managed forests and are 100% bio-degradable. They can be composted – breaking down within four to six weeks - and can also be disposed of as food waste. Suitable for both hot and cold drinks, the straws come in two sizes, a larger one for thick shakes and a normal size for soft or sparkling drinks.
Feeling hungry? Let the meal come to you!
Nearly half of all Wimpy restaurants across the UK are now offering a delivery service for Wimpy fans craving their favourite dishes at home. In partnership with three of the leading food delivery platforms, Wimpy plans to continue to build its network of restaurants who can offer home delivery. The home delivery service offers a slightly-reduced menu but all the traditional favourites are there - simply search for your nearest Wimpy on your delivery app to find out if Wimpy currently delivers in your area!
MUDDER'S MAKE A SPLASH
Congratulations to our Not So Wimpy team who completed their Tough Mudder challenge recently for our charity partner, Mind. The unforgiving course - five gruelling miles of mud and epic obstacles specifically designed to test teamwork and toughness – tried to break the team but failed!
Thanks to the generosity of our franchisees, employees, customers, family and friends, the team raised £5,337 to add to the funds raised so far by Wimpy restaurants across the country.
TWO FAMOUS BRANDS REUNITE OVER COFFEE
Two famous brands of the foodservice world have been reunited as Wimpy UK introduced Lyons Coffee to its latest menu. The Lyons Corner House in London’s Piccadilly was home to the first ever Wimpy Bar in 1954 and, since then, both brands have earned a reputation as heritage names steeped in British tradition.
The partnership, which has seen Lyons Coffee named as the exclusive coffee supplier to Wimpy’s nationwide chain of casual dining restaurants, marks a new beginning, as Wimpy UK General Manager, Chris Woolfenden, explains.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Lyons is part of the Wimpy family,” he said. “We know that whether you’re just stopping in for a quick drink or having a cup at the end of a meal, you want to be sure you’re enjoying the very best in flavour and in Lyons we have found the perfect blend of coffee magic.”
REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME PUTS WIMPY BERMONDSEY ON MAP
Wimpy Bermondsey re-opened its doors recently following a major refurbishment to its interior and exterior. The 45-seater restaurant now features bright new colours, modern furnishings and lighting. Visitors can also enjoy outside dining or a quick catch up over coffee from the pavement seating area whenever the sun shines on Southwark Park Road!
WIMPY ANNOUNCE MIND AS ITS CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Wimpy UK has chosen Mind, the leading mental health charity, as its Charity Partner of the Year. The move will see Wimpy restaurants and staff nationwide focus on a raft of fundraising events, with the goal of raising a minimum of £25,000.
Wimpy franchisees and their staff voted overwhelming for Mind, which was one of four charities shortlisted. Chris Woolfenden, Wimpy UK general manager, said: “We are honoured to be working with Mind, which plays such an important role in raising awareness of mental health issues and making sure that advice and support is there for those who need it.”
Celebrations as Wimpy Returns to Shrewsbury
Wimpy recently made a welcome return to
Shropshire following a "significant" investment in fitting out the
new premises in Claremont Street. The new Wimpy team has been overwhelmed with
support from local residents who are already enjoying the modern 100-seater
restaurant, now open 7-days a week.
Wimpy commits to Free Range eggs
All own label Wimpy products and all shell eggs supplied through the Wimpy distribution channel are now free range. Wimpy further committed to switching to cage-free alternatives on the remaining small number of non-own label products that contain egg ingredients on its menu. This will be in place by 2025 at the latest but continues to work closely with its third party suppliers in order to achieve this change at the earliest opportunity.
