ONE of the north's favourite pizza stops, Little Wing, is opening two new restaurants in a £500,000 investment leading to 40 new jobs.
The home-grown pizza chain, owned by the Beannchor Group, is opening new branches in Lisburn and Newtownards, bringing its current total to eight across Northern Ireland.
A restaurant at Lisburn Square will cater for 60 guests when it opens this summer, while the Newtownards outlet will open later in the year.
Further sites are currently being explored in other parts of the north, with the aim to add additional Little Wing pizzerias in the next 12 months.
And options for expansion are also under consideration in the Republic of Ireland.
Established in Belfast in October 2009, Little Wing offers authentic made to order Naples-style pizzas, cooked in distinctive 6ft traditional wood stone pizza ovens.
The latest investment, resulting in 20 new members of staff in Lisburn and a similar number in Newtownards, will bring the total number of employees to over 150.
Luke Wolsey, managing director of Little Wing Pizzeria, said: "We are excited to announce this latest investment, which we hope will be the first of several new openings over the next 12 months.
"Building on the success of our growing network of restaurants across Northern Ireland, the new Little Wing Pizzerias in Lisburn and Newtownards will help the brand to spread its wings further as we seek more opportunities to expand the business in the coming years.
"Little Wing provides real and meaningful long-term career opportunities for people who are passionate about hospitality and customer service and we’re proud to bring a jobs boost, with the creation of up to 40 new jobs this year."
Recruiting for a number of positions, including posts in management, waiting staff, pizza chefs and kitchen porters, will begin in the coming weeks (details at beannchorcareers.com)
Located in Lisburn Square, Little Wing joins Ballymena-based baby supplies store, Eclipse Nursery Store, which is also opening in the square this summer.
Under new management since 2015, Lisburn Square has welcomed a number of tenants including Shane Bennett Hair, The Man Shack, Alfredo’s on the Square and Emma Johnston Interior Design.
