Mehmet Nezir Korkut, founder of new doner kebab concept Great British Doner (GBD), has announced that he is targeting 100 sites across the UK in the next five years.
The debut GBD site opens at the weekend in Manchester, in Barton Arcade in Deansgate, in the premises previously occupied by Catalan restaurant Lunya. GBD is also set to open a food court format at the Arndale towards the end of the summer, followed a site in Piccadilly in the autumn.
Korkut said he was looking to grow the business out from his home city, with Liverpool, Preston and York among his next targets.
He added: “We’re looking at those types of university cities where we can offer something a bit different. In the next five years, we’re targeting 100 branches across the UK. That’s our immediate focus, and we will look at franchising to help support that.
We think there’s lots of opportunity for us here and we’ll see where we are after that. Maybe then we’ll consider going abroad.”
Korkut said he was inspired to launch GBD after spending many years travelling on motorways between Manchester and London and struggling to find healthy options at service stations.
Korkut said: “Everything is made fresh and with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. We are using prime cuts of meat, and we will also be having no waste, any leftovers will be given to food charities and the homeless.”
Korkut, a Turkish-born entrepreneur and restaurateur is drawing on more than 25 years of hospitality experience for his new venture. He began his career in Mardin before operating restaurants in Marmaris, serving British tourists with his signature flavours.
He is the former owner of Manchester’s Café Istanbul and franchisee of Sultanahmet Köftecisi.
