Issa brothers’ EG Group to create 32,000 jobs in next five years

The roles include 22,700 jobs in the UK. The majority of these will come from the expansion of its bakery chain Cooplands and fast-food brand Leon across the group’s forecourt network. 

The group will also open EG foodservice concessions in some Asda stores. The big-four grocer is also owned by the Issa brothers.

Overall, EG plans to open 30 Cooplands outlets a year through to 2026, as well as 50 Leon restaurants a year in the same period.

A significant number of jobs will also come through the opening of locations for its third-party brand partners, including Starbucks and KFC. These locations will include drive-thrus on forecourts and Asda car parks and will be operated by EG Group.

EG’s head office will also see its numbers increase in the recruitment drive. It currently employs around 900 people there.

Outside the UK, 9,700 jobs are expected to come from organic growth in EG’s other markets in Europe, as well as Australia and the US.

The group has also increased wages in response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This month, it raised the average hourly pay to £10.05 for UK employees aged 18 and above. It also reported that it had completed two previous pay rises to 10,000 employees last year.

Co-founders and co-chief executives Mohsin and Zuber Issa said: “As EG continues to go from strength to strength, we will be creating a large number of new jobs over the coming years, particularly in our successful foodservice business, which remains a significant growth opportunity globally.

“We are proud to be a business founded in Britain that invests in job creation worldwide while focusing heavily on the training and development of colleagues.

“EG has a strong track record of providing colleagues with long-term opportunities to progress their career at all levels and we are passionate about continuing this.”

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