Ready to start expanding their Cardiff-based Hokkei Chinese restaurant, Masterchef finalists Dale Williams and Larkin Cen have launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs to raise £275,000.
The cooking duo met on the show’s set in 2013 and have since decided to kick up their cooking talents a notch by opening the “to-go” restaurant.
Sharing the backstory of Hokkei, the restaurant’s team revealed:
“Two MasterChef finalists became friends with a shared vision for a special kind of takeaway. With the mission set, the boys set about creating a business and menu that flips the traditional Chinese takeaway on its head. To test their ideas they set up a pop up in the five star Celtic Manor, and were blown away by the feedback, Hokkei was born. Dedication to authentic and delicious flavors, using ethically sourced, high quality ingredients and a service second to none are just three things that make Hokkei awesome.
“The business is owned by Dale and Larkin. Larkin grew up in his parents Chinese takeaway, he knows the Chinese food takeaway industry inside out and is a qualified lawyer. Dale is a successful entrepreneur who owns and runs one of the UK’s fastest growing recruitment businesses.
“Together, they have created a healthy, fresh and revolutionary Asian takeaway which opened its doors in November 2014.”
Since its debut, the campaign has not only secured over £172,160, it also caught the eye of Gocompare founder, Hayley Parson, who pitched in £50,000. Williams told Insider Media:
“She’s kickstarted a campaign to help us reach our target.”
The funds will go towards opening three restaurants in Canton, Cardiff Bay and Whitchurch. The duo hopes that the money will lead to the creation of 50 jobs.
Those who fund the project will receive 25% in equity stake.
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