A SOLIHULL entrepreneur is celebrating his business being listed in the Financial Times’ FT 1000.
Lemon Pepper Holdings, the master franchisee of Wingstop UK, is listed at number 149, the highest casual dining brand in the ranking.
It has been a continuous and rapid journey of growth for Wingstop UK since launching in the UK market in 2018, where it now operates 41 sites and employs over 1,600 people.
Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings said: “We are delighted to be included in this year’s FT 1000 fastest growing companies. There are few businesses who have expanded at the rate we have in six years and the momentum we are seeing is continuously growing.
“I would like to thank the amazing team for their continuous hard work to get us to this place and we are looking forward to what the next year brings.”
Tom Grogan, born and bread from Solihull together with his co-founders Herman Sahota and Saul Lewin have brought Wingstop to the UK.
The three co-founders cold called the US, got the master franchisee in the UK and have grown massively, employing over 1,600 people and 2024 set to be its biggest year of expansion
Tom said he was nervous to take the leap, but knew it was the right thing to do.
“Myself and my two colleagues flew out to American and met with 50 investors.
“It was the 50th investor that agreed to back us, and once we launched the bran it took off immediately.”
Wingstop has two restaurants in Birmingham and is opening one in Merry Hill later this year.
Tom said the key to his success is self belief.
“I think you need to back yourself and take risks.
“Leaving Birmingham to go to London was a risk, but it paid off massively.”
Visit https://www.ft.com/ft1000-2024 for more information on the FT 1000 list.
