Itsu announces 11% increase in hourly pay for entry-level jobs

Asian-inspired restaurant and grocery brand Itsu has announced it is increasing the hourly wage for entry-level team members by 11% to a minimum of £10.40 an hour.

All in-store workers paid weekly will see an equivalent wage increase effective from tomorrow, with those paid monthly to see the increase from 1 October. It is expected to affect 1,000 existing employees.

The policy will apply to all owned restaurants and will be optional for franchise operators. The company, which has 72 stores across the UK, said it never recruits using zero-hour contracts.

Ganan Kanagathurai, UK chief executive of Itsu, said: "We are delighted to announce that we are leading the way in the hospitality industry, increasing wages for new and existing team members. This investment reinforces our commitment to the people that deliver the outstanding quality food and customer service levels we are renowned for in the market. An investment in our people is an investment in the business."

Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, said: "Our team members are the heart of our business and the face of our brand for our customers in-store. Itsu has always offered an incredibly attractive career path and this announcement will only increase the number of people that want to join our mission to deliver high quality, nutritious food at an affordable price."

Photo: Shutterstock / Alex Yeung