the uk casual dining sector for many years until its recent business disposals . it previously owned pizzaexpress zizzi ask italian and byron . the group employed approximately 15 000 people serving over 74 million meals a year 42 million in restaurants and a further 32 million retail in the uk and ireland alone . it had an estate in the uk and ireland of almost 700 restaurants with an expanding global presence of almost 750 restaurants in 14 territories .