The Wright Group seeks sites for rollout of Hogs & Heifers chain

The group, owned by businessman Michael JF Wright, is actively planning to add up to six new Hogs & Heifers outlets. It is seeking locations of between 5,000 and 6,000 sq ft in high footfall areas in cities and towns in the Republic as well as in Belfast.

The company said ideal locations would preferably be located next to or near other retail or entertainment venues. The two existing Hog & Heifers outlets are in Airside Retail Park in Swords in Dublin and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

The Airside restaurant opened in 2013 and the 300-seater outlet in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre opened in June this year after a €1m investment.

The Wright Group’s businesses include Marqette Food Hall and Guinness Bar Experience in Dublin Airport, Wrights Café Bar in Swords, Findlater’s pub and restaurant in Howth, The Anglers Rest in Castleknock, the People’s Park Café in Dun Laoghaire, Wrights’ Centra and The Foodhall at UCD village and Gilbert & Wright Malahide.

The planned Hogs & Heifers expansion will create 360 jobs in addition to the group’s current 750 staff, over 120 of whom are employed in the two existing Hogs & Heifers locations.

The Hogs & Heifers bar & grill restaurants are targeted at families and groups.

The plans mark a second major expansion this year for the group. In March The Wright Group and property investor Tetrarch Capital got the green light for a major €10m redevelopment of Howth Castle as a wedding and tourist destination.

The proposals include a petting farm, picnic areas, a 150-seat marquee for wedding events, greenhouse, plant nursery and pedestrianisation of the grounds.

The developers plan to transform the location into a retail, food and tourist destination to include a gin-making school, cookery school and retail stores.

Meanwhile, financial results published this week show revenues at The Wright Group last year increased almost four fold to €35.6m.

The group last year recorded operating profits of €5.27m and profits reduced after paying out €1.27m in interest payments and €31,027 in exceptional costs.

The boost in business at the Swords-headquartered business coincided with passenger numbers at Dublin Airport topping 28.1 million – a 231pc increase on 2021.