‘Cash support has saved our restaurant chain’

UK GOVERNMENT support has proved a recipe for success for Scotland’s largest independently owned restaurant chain.

Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group is a family business founded by Joe Conetta and nephew Mario Gizzi in 1983 with the creation of Glasgow institution Di Maggio’s. The company operates 18 restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen with five food court outlets in Scotland, Belfast and Manchester. Other brands include Café Andaluz, Amarone, Barolo, The Anchor Line, Atlantic and Cadiz, employing overall 1,000 staff.

“We would not have survived without UK Government support,” confirms co-manager Tony Conetta. “Without our staff, we would not have a business. Without the financial support from the government, 100 per cent we would not have survived. The help was generous. We employ 1,000 people, 40 per cent of our income goes on wages. Many of our employees are main breadwinners for their families. If you turn off that income, you cannot pay wages. UK Government support helped people pay their mortgages and food bills.

“The Eat Out to Help Out scheme gave the business a fresh boost providing impetus and opportunity for people to go out.” Tony continued: “Many people had got into the mindset that they were going to stay in and ride this out. The scheme helped change that, giving people confidence to eat out again. It gave people a zest for life. Being able to go out was refreshing.”

GRATEFUL: Mario Gizzi, DRG group founder, and Tony Conetta say the business would have gone under without UK Government support.