Mario C. Bauer brings international partners and investors together to restart the Vapiano brand and aims to give it a new lease of life.
Having been a passionate brand ambassador and entrepreneur in the world of international catering for over two decades, Mario C’ Bauer’s love affair with Vapiano is set to continue as he and his team’s bid for the listed company has been accepted.
Several high profile names are on-board with the restart project and include the Van der Valk family, which is one of the major hospitality dynasties in the Netherlands and was one of the first international franchise partners of Vapiano, Henry McGovern, Founder and Chief Emotional Officer of AmRest for 26 years and Sinclair Beecham, Founder of Pret a Manger, a brand that revolutionised the British fast casual and sandwich scene. Many more are also on board, including Gregor Gerlach, one of the Founders of Vapiano.
“Our strength as investors lies in the fact that each individual not only has many years of experience in top positions in the European food service industry, but that we have all known each other very well for a very long time. We are united by a deep friendship and a basis of trust,” Mario C. Bauer sums up. “These are the best basis for advancing our heart project Vapiano with passion and commitment. As new shareholders we all share a passion for building a unique culture led organisation.”
Founded in Hamburg in 2002, Vapiano was one of the few German gastronomy concepts to accomplish worldwide success. At its peak, Vapiano maintained 250 restaurants in more than 30 countries.
