Big Mamma is a French restaurant group specializing in Italian cuisine and founded in 2015 in Paris by entrepreneurs Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux. In 2024, the group has 29 restaurants in France, United Kingdom, Spain and Monaco.https://lobservateurdemonaco.com/personnalites/tigrane-seydoux-big-mamma-monaco Big Mamma débarque à Monaco : les confidences du Monégasque Tigrane Seydoux
History The Big Mamma Group company was created in 2015 by entrepreneurs Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux, who met at HEC Paris, with the help of private investors including Xavier Niel and Stéphane Courbit.https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/commerce/qui-se-cache-derriere-la-success-story-big-mamma_481317 Qui se cache derrière la success story Big Mamma?
The concept saw the opening of seven restaurants in three years. Due to the lack of a reservation system, long queues of customers formed outside the restaurants and thus distinguished them from other restaurant brands.https://www.lepoint.fr/gastronomie/faut-il-etre-maso-pour-bien-manger-08-12-2019-2351918_82.php Le goût de la queue
In 2018, the group moved to the Station F campus created by Niel: its restaurant La Felicità occupies 4,500 m2 of space for 7 different catering points, including a cafeteria open 24/7. At the time, the group sold nearly 8,000 meals per day, compared to 4,000 the year before.https://www.lemonde.fr/m-gastronomie/article/2018/06/12/big-mamma-le-succes-qui-agace_5313310_4497540.html Restaurants Big Mamma, le succès qui agace les chefs
In February 2019, the group exported abroad, with the opening of two restaurants in London. At that time, he employed around 1,000 employees in Paris, and the London restaurant used 180 different producers, with some products being shipped from Italy to London in less than 36 hours.https://www.liberation.fr/lifestyle/gastronomie/a-milan-big-mamma-marche-sur-les-pates-bandes-de-litalie-20240223_YJVF44UZIJB63EZZ2N2C7BF7QQ/ A Milan, Big Mamma marche sur les pâtes-bandes de l'Italie
In 2022, the group had 2,000 employees. In 2023, the English investment fund McWin bought Big Mamma, becoming its majority shareholder; Lugger and Seydoux remained minority shareholders and co-CEOs, while the historical investors (including Niel and Courbit) took the opportunity to sell all their shares to McWin.https://www.ft.com/content/8a807a50-139d-49ef-a1c4-dadb98c36248 Big Mamma restaurant group sells majority stake to private equity
Concept Big Mamma restaurants base their sales concept on highlighting the artisanal origin of their Italian suppliers. The group asks restaurant staff to speak Italian to customers.https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2019/04/08/French-restaurant-group-Big-Mamma-burst-onto-London-restaurant-scene-with-Gloria/ Mamma's boys: the founders of Big Mamma on their London plans
In the French restaurant landscape, the company's success has aroused hostility; some compare it to a "soulless" marketing initiative.https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/tourisme-transport/restaurants-big-mamma-change-de-mains-pour-accelerer-a-linternational-1979382 Restaurants : Big Mamma change de mains pour accélérer à l'international
Locations By the end of 2023, the group will manage 23 restaurants in Europe (France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Monaco and the United Kingdom), including La Felicità in Paris.https://www.lhotellerie-restauration.fr/actualite/big-mamma-ouvre-son-premier-restaurant-en-belgique Big Mamma ouvre son premier restaurant en Belgique
Distinction In November 2017, the two founders Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux received the "entrepreneurs of the year" award from the Gault Millau gastronomic guide.https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/le-duo-gagnant-des-big-mamma-couronne-par-le-gault-et-millau-06-11-2017-2170136_23.php Le duo gagnant des "Big Mamma" couronné par le Gault et Millau
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