Hospitality boss Bill Wolsey has said he plans to open pizza restaurants in the Republic under his Little Wing brand.
Mr Wolsey, whose Beannchor group owns the Merchant and Bullitt hotels in Belfast, as well as a series of pubs, was crowned winner of the industry category of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition last week.
Now he’s revealed plans to open Little Wing restaurants in the Republic, where he is already intending to open a second Bullitt hotel in Dublin’s Capel Street.
A spokeswoman said the company “aspires to open” five or more Little Wings in the Republic, but that the openings would depend on the market at the time and on the availability of sites.
She said: “Over the last nine years, Little Wing Pizzeria has grown to become a well-known and loved brand.
“We have established a strong business model and a loyal customer following, with eight restaurants in locations across Northern Ireland, serving up over two million of our famous Naples-style pizzas
“Building on this success, we are exploring opportunities for further growth and expansion in the Republic of Ireland.
“We are actively looking at potential sites in Dublin and further afield. Within the next two years, we plan to open a second Bullitt hotel in Dublin, which we expect will be our first venture in the Republic of Ireland.
“Following this, we hope to continue the expansion of Little Wing in the Republic of Ireland market.”