Karali Group Acquires 19 Real Greek Sites, Saves 358 Jobs

*TL;DR: Karali Group will purchase 19 of The Real Greek’s 28 restaurants, protecting 358 jobs.

Context The Real Greek, a Mediterranean chain founded in London in 1999, faced administration after its parent, Fulham Shore, announced a pre‑pack insolvency. The chain reported an operating loss of £3.6 million and cited rising energy, food and labour costs as key pressures.

Key Facts - Karali Group, which bought the 70‑restaurant Cote Brasserie chain last year, agreed to acquire 19 of The Real Greek’s 28 outlets. The deal rescues the majority of the brand’s locations, leaving eight sites—Spitalfields, Westfield London, Dulwich Village, Bristol, Strand, Solihull, Gloucester Quays, Glasgow and Edinburgh—to close. - The transaction secures 358 of the 509 jobs at risk, cutting the potential redundancies by roughly 30 %. - Fulham Shore’s chief executive Marcel Khan noted that the business had shown “clear and sustained improvements” since Toridoll, a Japanese restaurant group, took over in 2023. He described emerging trading momentum but warned that high cost inflation and an unfavourable fiscal environment continue to strain UK operators. - Toridoll’s statement echoed industry warnings about soaring business rates, energy bills and minimum‑wage hikes, which have squeezed profit margins across the hospitality sector. - The pre‑pack administration and subsequent sale to Karali are intended to place The Real Greek on a more sustainable footing, allowing Fulham Shore to concentrate on its Franco Manca brand and its growth potential.

What It Means The acquisition stabilises The Real Greek’s core operations and preserves the majority of its workforce, offering a lifeline to a brand that has struggled with cost pressures. By offloading most sites to Karali, Fulham Shore can redirect resources to Franco Manca, a chain it believes holds stronger growth prospects. The move also highlights a broader trend of consolidation in the UK restaurant market as operators seek scale and financial resilience amid persistent inflation and tax burdens.

Looking ahead, observers will watch how Karali integrates the new locations, whether the rescued sites can return to profitability, and how the remaining Franco Manca restructuring unfolds under Toridoll’s ownership.