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wimpy borehamwood serves up smart new look
A smart, new-look Wimpy Borehamwood reopened for business on Wednesday (April 29), offering takeaway and home delivery services.
It’s a welcome return to the town for franchisees, the Bastug family, who have just invested in a major makeover for the restaurant, costing thousands of pounds.
The refurbishment programme has seen Wimpy Borehamwood adopt Wimpy UK’s new SHIFT Design, building on the brand’s strong heritage and much-loved traditions, featuring bright new colours, new seating and layout.
Tuguy Bastug, the third generation of his family to run the Wimpy, said: “The new look is 100% amazing and it is even better than we could have imagined. Adopting the SHIFT design is a whole a new chapter, we’re very proud at what we’ve achieved and can’t wait to start cooking again.
“Of course, we can only do takeaway and home delivery at the moment, but as soon as the restrictions are lifted, we’re looking forward to welcoming all our much-loved customers back. Everyone in the town knows us so well, they have been asking what we are doing and now they will be able to see for themselves.”
The restaurant opened in 1961 and is thought to be the oldest business still operating on the town’s high street. It was started by Tuguy’s grandad and then run by both his father Rashid and his uncle, before he became a director nearly four years ago.
Wimpy Upminster serves up special thank you
The team at Wimpy Upminster has cooked up a fantastic way to say a massive Wimpy thank you to NHS staff at both Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes.
Over the last three weeks, they have produced and hand-delivered a very welcome feast of some 300 meals for the two hospitals and plan more deliveries next week.
Franchisee Berkant Okatan, who has been working with his landlord Dev Gill, also a former Wimpy franchisee, to donate and deliver the meals, said: “All the NHS workers are doing such a fantastic job and we wanted to be able to support them during these difficult times.
“Many NHS staff come in here anyway, so we thought it was a lovely way to say thank you and take Wimpy to them at a time when they can’t come to us. The feedback since we started has been amazing and it has been an absolute pleasure, we’ll certainly keep it up as long as we can.”
With additional food donations from Wimpy head office, Berkant has been kept busy cooking around 100 meals of three favourite dishes each week – Wimpy Original Quarterpounder Cheese burgers, Breaded Chicken Fillets in a bun, and Spicy Bean Burgers, all served with chips – and all carefully packaged and delivered fresh to the hospitals.
“It’s been a marathon and it’s really stretched our organisational skills, especially in terms of keeping all the food hot and fresh, because of course at the same time, we’re observing social distancing in the restaurant and our staff numbers are at a minimum,” added Berkant.
“However, we’re delighted to be able to do it and know that it is really appreciated.”
Wimpy returns to Orpington with home delivery and takeaway menu
Wimpy opened its doors in Orpington on Easter Monday (April 13) for the first time in 35 years.
Due to the current coronavirus ‘lockdown’ it will be offering a takeaway service from its new High Street premises and home delivery services via Deliveroo.
Joint franchisee Nico Sokoli, an experienced chef and manager, will be running the new Wimpy operation.
He said: “We’re thrilled and delighted to be bringing Wimpy back to Orpington. Obviously it won’t be the big grand opening that we had initially planned, but we think providing a takeaway and home delivery service for local people is really important right now.
“We know Wimpy was a much-loved brand in the town and we can’t wait to get started. In time, we hope to be able to welcome both new and old generations of Wimpy lovers into our brand new restaurant, but until then, we hope they will enjoy what we have to offer from our takeaway counter and via our home delivery partners.”
Simon Noble, Wimpy UK’s operations manager, said: “The whole Wimpy team is supporting Nico in his desire to open Wimpy Orpington with a takeaway and home delivery service and we sincerely hope that local residents will appreciate the chance to enjoy their favourite Wimpy dish from the comfort of their own home.
Nico and his business partner Florenc Sokoli already own and operate two other Wimpys in Welling and Strood.
Wimpy temporarily closes seating areas in its restaurants
With immediate effect (20 March) Wimpy is to temporarily close all seating areas in its restaurants and focus solely on providing home delivery services and takeaway options at some of its restaurants.
Customers can order for home delivery directly from one of Wimpy’s approved delivery partners – JustEat, UberEats or Deliveroo.
In addition, some restaurants will be offering their own local home delivery service.
Some Wimpys may continue to offer a takeaway service and customers are invited to call and check before leaving home.
Chris Woolfenden, General Manager, Wimpy UK, said: “These are unprecedented and fast-moving times and the health and safety of our customers, our franchisees and their employees must be our top priority.
“We believe that by focusing on these new measures, we will at least be able to continue to deliver to our customers and support our Wimpy franchisees and their staff to the best of our ability. In order to meet the demand for home delivery and takeaway, our restaurants will remain open for as long as it is safe to do so or until we are advised otherwise by the Government.”
The restaurant has already introduced strict guidelines on social distancing to protect both customers and staff, together with stringent health and hygiene measures.
Around 65% of the 67-strong Wimpy estate restaurants now offer home delivery services.
Wimpy Strood re-opens after makeover
Wimpy Strood re-opened its doors this November, after a major refurbishment to Wimpy’s smart new SHIFT interior design.
The restaurant, which can seat up to 62 diners, is under new management and employs six staff. Work has included completely revamping the customer seating area with new furniture, the new colour scheme and lighting, and redeveloping the toilets.
Among the improvements are the installation of USB charging points in the new booth areas and the introduction of a new till system to speed up ordering times.
To coincide with the opening, Wimpy Strood is also launching a new home delivery service, working with Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
Wimpy UK launches staff reward scheme
Wimpy UK has launched its first ever staff reward scheme,
recognising the achievements of staff employed across its 69 restaurants
nationwide.
Wimpy Icons rewards special success in four categories: Ability & Skill;
Behaviour & Attitude; Customer Care; and Moments That Matter.
Each month Wimpy employees, from kitchen staff to front-of-house,
will be eligible to be nominated for an award by their manager. If they win,
they will be given a unique pin badge to wear which reflects their success, as
well as a £50 voucher of their choosing.
Wimpy General Manager, Chris Woolfenden, said: “This November, we are excited
to launch a scheme that allows all restaurant staff the opportunity to be
rewarded by the Wimpy brand and literally wear their achievements with pride.
“Our new scheme will be an ongoing campaign that we believe will help make all
Wimpy employees feel valued, no matter what their role.”
Wimpy UK adopts European Chicken Commitment
Wimpy UK has adopted the European Chicken Commitment (ECC). This decision builds on our stated commitment to recognise the importance of higher welfare standards for chickens and also underlines our desire to source food sustainably.
By signing up to the ECC we commit to exclusively sourcing 100% of our chicken from suppliers who meet or exceed the standards set out in the ECC by 2026.
All chicken products currently on our Wimpy menu are sourced from an approved, reputable supplier and meet current EU animal welfare laws and regulations.
This move further underlines our commitment to animal welfare and follows our decision in January 2018 to only use free range eggs for all our own label products on the menu.
New-look Wimpy Basingstoke helps customers stay in touch
Wimpy Basingstoke has become the first Wimpy in the country to introduce at-your-seat USB charging points following a major refurbishment programme.
The restaurant re-opened its doors at the beginning of September having adopted Wimpy UK’s new Shift Design, which builds on the brand’s strong heritage and much-loved traditions.
The 100-seater restaurant, in the town’s Festival Place Shopping Centre, now features bright new colours, with smartly-styled booths and benches, plus a new-look outside seating area.
A streamlined till system has also been introduced to help speed up ordering times, while energy efficient lighting helps improve the restaurant’s sustainability credentials.
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 are available to buy in the majority of Wimpy restaurants this year.
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.
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!
WIMPY RAISES £10,000 FOR MIND
Wimpy UK has raised an impressive £10,000 for Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.
Over the last 12 months, Wimpy restaurants and staff nationwide have waved their collection tins, organised sponsored events and even donated their tips to add to the total.
And last autumn, a Wimpy team from head office, plus franchisees and their employees got down and dirty by taking part in a Tough Mudder challenge.
Chris Woolfenden, Wimpy UK General Manager, said: “We have been very pleased and impressed with the lengths some of our franchisees and their teams have gone to, to raise money for Mind.
“Many congratulations and thanks to all those who have contributed to this great cause. We know that every penny raised makes a real difference and we feel especially proud to have been involved in a project which is close to the hearts of so many of our own people and the communities in which we operate.”
Wimpy chose to fundraise for Mind after franchisees and staff voted to support the charity, which helps support those with mental health problems. The money will help to fund Mind’s activities, including the Mind Infoline, information and advice services, and its campaigning to ensure everyone who has a mental health problem gets support and respect.
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.
