Zomato to scale up Scotland operations

The global restaurant guide Zomato has announced an investment of $1m to strengthen its presence in Scotland.

Zomato, a global digital platform currently present in 45 cities across 13 countries, extended its web and app presence to Edinburgh and Glasgow in November 2013 and provides information for over 3,000 restaurants in the two cities. The company has also set up its second UK office after London in Edinburgh in early 2014 to cater to the growing demand for their service more effectively. The intention is to hire 25-30 individuals in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the next 12 months.

The firm’s key strength lies in the restaurant information it provides, including scanned menus for over 90% of restaurants in both cities, photos, mapped coordinates, user ratings and reviews. Additionally, Zomato's award-winning mobile app is location-aware and suggests the best restaurants around a user's location. All of Zomato's web features are available and fully supported on the free mobile app available on all platforms.

Scotland’s Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Mr Humza Yousaf, commented on Zomato’s announcement saying, “I welcome Zomato’s planned additional investment and its enhanced operations in Scotland, which is expected to create new jobs in our two largest cities.

“Scotland’s relationship with India is very important to us. Our two countries enjoy a successful, collaborative relationship and our business links are strong.

"As outlined in the Scottish Government’s India Plan, our ambition is to further strengthen these links. That’s why, through Scottish Development International, we are working hard to assist Indian firms like Zomato to expand their operations into Scotland.

“I was pleased to meet with Zomato in New Delhi last October, and am encouraged to hear that the company has realised its ambition to expand into Scotland. I wish Zomato every success for the future.”

Rooma Kumar Bussi, Country Director, Scottish Development International, India, said: “2014 is an exciting year for Scotland because of the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup. Because of this, we are not only seeing an increased interest in everything Scottish, but also for business opportunities that the country has to offer.

I am delighted to see Zomato setting up their presence in Scotland and hope to see them grow in a country that is so passionate about food. The food and drink industry is worth over £13 billion annually to the Scottish economy and holds immense potential for business. I am sure Zomato will benefit from Scotland’s vibrant industry sectors, its talent pool and business friendly environment."

Tony Marsden, Business Lead for Zomato in Scotland, said “Edinburgh and Glasgow were the obvious choices for expansion in the UK after London, because there is such a diverse and independent food culture here. The abundance of local talent has helped us ramp up the team on-ground in a relatively short time span with the right skills, knowledge and attitude. We’ve also found the Scottish food and drink industry incredibly welcoming, from restaurants to well-informed consumers, and we look forward to building on this exciting start”.

In addition to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Zomato is active in London, Manchester, Birmingham and 40 other cities around the world, in 13 different countries, with plans to expand rapidly into 20 new markets across Europe, North America, South America and Asia in the coming months.