The restaurant growth platform is taking full ownership of its longtime partner as it targets national growth, QSR franchising and international expansion.
- Sessions acquires Little Bao Boy to expand franchise operations.
- Little Bao Boy started in Leeds and achieved 431% YoY growth.
- Sessions plans to take Little Bao Boy international after acquisition.
Little Bao Boy is entering a new phase of growth after restaurant growth platform Sessions acquired the Asian street food brand, following a five-year partnership between the two companies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Sessions plans to continue expanding Little Bao Boy nationally, grow its presence through QSR franchising and eventually take the brand into international markets.
Founded by James Ooi in a Leeds home kitchen in 2016, Little Bao Boy built its identity around bao buns, noodles, rice bowls and other Asian-inspired street food. The brand partnered with Sessions in 2021, initially appearing through pop-ups at London venues including The Sun & 13 Cantons and The Roundhouse. It later expanded nationally through Sessions' delivery kitchen partners, using a delivery-first model to reach customers beyond its original market.
That partnership has produced significant growth. Little Bao Boy has now delivered more than 340,000 orders and recorded 431% year-over-year growth, according to Restaurant Online. Sessions said the acquisition is intended to build on that momentum rather than change the relationship that helped establish the brand's national footprint.
Ooi will retain a minority holding in Little Bao Boy and continue contributing to its creative and culinary development. For the founder, the arrangement provides an exit from the day-to-day operational demands of running the business while allowing him to remain involved in the brand he created. Sessions founder Dan Warne described the approach as a continued partnership in which founders can remain connected to their concepts as they scale.
For franchise networks growing through partnerships, acquisitions or multiple locations, maintaining a consistent brand experience can become increasingly complex. Gorilla Dash includes a Knowledge Base that can give franchise teams a centralized place to organize brand guidelines, training information and operational resources as the network expands. That kind of shared reference point can help teams preserve the identity of a growing concept while adapting to new markets. For Little Bao Boy, the next stage will test how effectively its distinctive food and brand can translate from a Leeds-born delivery concept into a broader franchising and international business.
Key Facts:
| Acquisition | Sessions has acquired Little Bao Boy to enhance its franchise portfolio. |
|---|---|
| Origin | Little Bao Boy was founded in 2016 in Leeds by James Ooi. |
| Growth | Achieved 431% year-on-year growth with over 340,000 orders delivered to date. |
| Partnership Launch | Partnership with Sessions began in 2021 with pop-ups in London. |
| International Plans | Sessions aims to expand Little Bao Boy internationally. |
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