INVENTIVE Edinburgh restaurateur, Michael Yip, owner of Dragon Way, Newington, believes he has found a way to beat the effects of the recession on restaurants, and has recently received a quality Halal Seal of Approval, to become the capital’s first certified Halal Chinese restaurant.
And says a spokesperson: “This is not the first time Michael has looked at ways to increase profit margins and retain customers in the current economic climate.
“He recently launched his first Halal noodle bar, WaWa, which offers his widening customer base, the chance to ‘slurp and surf’ on one of six iPads whilst eating takeaway Halal noodles.
“The bar, on West Causewayside, in Edinburgh has proved such a hit that it now looks set to be rolled out to other cities in Scotland initially, followed by further expansion throughout the UK, as applicable.”
Michael said: “Halal focuses on ingredient purity, traceability, product content and production excellence, however this is only part of the reason for the change at Dragon Way. Halal meat has a longer shelf life, is fresh rather than frozen and has no added water.”
The spokesperson: “Prior to turning Halal, Dragon Way, Newington would use 100kg of frozen chicken per week at a cost of £365; however, 20-25 per cent of the weight was ‘lost’ in the cooking process, due to the added water. Since turning Halal, the restaurant orders just 80kg, costing £280, from Mr. Afzal Bokshto of Elite Wholesale Ltd, Edinburgh, to produce the same number of servings, which represents a significant annual saving.”
Michael added: “In addition to the economy of scale and financial implication, restaurant users enjoy a tastier meal as the fresh chicken soaks up the marinade giving a more authentic depth of flavor.
“Customer satisfaction is crucial to my business so finding ways to ethically save money on stock, means I can pass on the benefits direct to my customers.
“In an economic ‘slow down’ where competition, procurement, quality, service and price sensitivity are the name of the game… it has proved to be a win-win situation for all!”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
Michael Yip biog:
Michael Yip moved from Hong Kong in the early 1990’s to join his family in Glasgow where he was educated and brought up within the local Chinese/Muslim community.
A change of location to Edinburgh in 2001 brought fresh opportunities, adding three restaurants to the families growing portfolio. Michael quickly learned all aspects of the family business and by 2005 had expanded their existing Dragon Way chain to six restaurants.
A firm believer in social/cultural inclusion and creative enterprise, Michael’s innovative approach to business has led to a progressive expansion of his family business and he is currently at the planning stages to develop an UK-wide franchising opportunity for his WAWA Noodle Bar.
Definition of Halal
In Arabic, Halal simply means permissible or lawful. Eating Halal food is obligatory for every Muslim. Most foods are considered Halal, except the following (which are Haram):
Pork and its by-products
Animals improperly slaughtered, or dead before slaughtering
Animals killed in the name of anyone other than Allah
Alcohol and intoxicants
Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals without external ears
Blood and blood by-products
The term, Halal, can also be extended to cover products containing alcohol, gelatine, enzymes, emulsifiers and preservatives derived from animals. It is estimated that the global market for Halal products is a $580 billion industry and comprises of approximately 1.6 billion Halal consumers.
For more information please visit www.dragonway.co.uk.
Dragon Way
74–78 South Clerk Street
Edinburgh
EH8 9PT
0131 668 1328
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Vicky Pitchers/John Wylie
07973 304286/07932 744 276
vicky@vjpmedia.com.
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