Minor International changes name of Corbin & King to the Wolseley Hospitality Group
Minor International, the new owner of Corbin & King, has changed the restaurant group's name to the Wolseley Hospitality Group.
The change removes reference to the group's founders Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. King lost his battle to regain control of the king from Minor International, which then held a 74% shareholding, in April this year.
Minor had held a 74% share of Corbin & King since 2017 and said acquiring 100% of the company was part of a strategy to grow its "iconic restaurant portfolio" in the UK and internationally.
The choice of the Wolseley Hospitality Group references the founding restaurant of the group on London's Piccadilly, which dates back to 2003. It is thought that the Wolseley restaurant will form the basis of the group's global expansion plans.
Minor International has said it is already looking to open another Wolseley site in the City of London.
The group also incorporates the Delaunay, Brasserie Zédel, Colbert, Fischer's, Bellanger and Soutine, as well as Café Wolseley in Bicester Village in Oxford.
William E Heinecke, chairman and founder of Minor International, said: "We have the utmost respect for the Wolseley Hospitality Group team who have created the Wolseley and all the other fine restaurants in the portfolio over the last 19 years.
"And now we look forward to expanding the restaurants not only in the UK, but globally with the support of Minor's international footprint and team while ensuring the continued success of the Wolseley Hospitality Group."