Sumosan founder secures backing for new Japanese-Middle Eastern dining concept

Cain International, the investment firm which bought Prezzo last year, has partnered with Sumosan founder Janina Wolkow to launch JiJi, a new Japanese-Middle Eastern dining concept.

The restaurant will open at London's Islington Square in June with the kitchen overseen by executive chef Bubker Belkhit, who has worked with Wolkow for over 20 years. He was instrumental in the creation of Sumosan, the Japanese restaurant concept which has six restaurants across the world including one in London's Knightsbridge.

Wolkow said: "I have spent a lot of time travelling through Japan and the Middle East, from Tokyo to Tel Aviv and beyond, and I'm always inspired by the ingredients, flavours and cooking I find there. I believe dishes from both cuisines complement each other perfectly, and make for an exciting, intriguing menu. We can't wait to introduce JiJi to our guests when we open our doors in Islington this summer."

Jonathan Goldstein, chief executive of Cain International, said: "We believe in backing great entrepreneurs and that property owners and operators need to work more closely together for success. Having collaborated with Janina to bring Sumosan to our development at Courchevel 1850, where it has been exceptionally well received, we were very pleased to work with her in making this exciting dining concept a reality."

Cain's portfolio of investments also includes crazy golf brand Swingers, which expanded into the US earlier this year; Maslow's Group, which operates private members' club Mortimer House in London's Fitzrovia; the St James, a premier sports, entertainment and wellness club; the AllBright collective for women in business; and Prezzo, the Italian restaurant chain Cain acquired last year.