Entrepreneur Luke Johnson has announced plans to open a number of new Gail’s Artisan Bakery and Patisserie Valerie outlets in the UK next year.

Speaking at The Telegraph Festival of Business in Manchester last Friday (16 September), he said he planned to open 50 new outlets across his venture capital firm, Risk Capital Partners’ restaurant and retail estate, according to The Telegraph.

There would also be new sites for the Giraffe and Feng Sushi chains.

He said companies could still grow, despite fears about the wider economy, by either remaining constant in a growing market, or taking share in a static or stagnant market.

In May this year, Risk Capital acquired “a large stake” in north London artisan bakery Bread Ltd, and announced plans for the future growth of its wholesale business The Bread Factory, and Gail’s bakery and café estate.

>>Risk Capital takes share in London bread firm