Discuss the importance of each stage of strategy implementation to the success of Wahaca's proposed expansion of restaurants outlets across London.

Case Study: Mexican Restaurant Group, Wahaca, to Expand Operations in London The restaurant group, Wahaca, announced plans earlier in 2022 to expand its number of restaurants across London, UK, targeting environmentally conscious sites in areas such as King's Cross, Victoria, and the suburbs. There are currently 13 Wahaca restaurants in operation and the company's expansion plans will mark a return to growth following the closure in 2020 of 10 of its restaurants in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol as a result of difficult trading conditions resulting from the UK COVID-19 lockdowns and other related measures which impacted significantly on the whole of the UK hospitality industry. The founders of Wahaca, Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby, wanted to create a restaurant business which was different from that of competitors and firmly built on a foundation of sustainability which recognises the impact of their business on the environment, society, supply chain and carbon footprint. The focus on sustainability continues to be a driving force for the company in its expansion plans. Co-founder Mark Selby is on record as saying, "We want to work with landlords to open restaurants in places that share not only our ethos but are as committed as we are to taking positive, affirmative action on the environment. Thomas Rose, co-founder of Wahaca's exclusive property provider, P-THREE, added his support to Mark Selby's position saying "Landlords are rightly prioritising environmental social governance (ESG) corporately, but there is a growing move to do so at an asset-level too as they respond to changing consumer behaviours. While Wahaca's new strategy lays down a challenge, it is being welcomed by landlords and leading to some exciting conversations." The chain's sustainable site selection strategy coincides with its introduction of carbon ratings to its menus from this week, which it claims is an industry first for a British restaurant group. Towards the end of 2021, the Wahaca restaurant chain released its avocado-free Wahacamole, a sustainable alternative to guacamole, which is known to contribute to deforestation and water shortages. In January 2022, the company received three stars out of three from the Sustainable Restaurant Association and its site in London's Southbank has been named as the capital's most sustainable restaurant build. www.wahaca. co.uk