Poke House

Poke House is a restaurant chain founded in November 2018 in Milan by Matteo Pichi and Vittoria Zanetti, offering Hawaiian-style poke bowls reinterpreted with fresh ingredients and an aesthetic geared toward a young audience attentive to fast-food quality. The format quickly won over the Italian market before expanding into other European and non-European countries. The company's funding path has involved notable Italian investors: the last known round dates back to May 2023, led by Red Circle Investments, the investment vehicle of Renzo Rosso, founder of OTB (owner of brands such as Diesel and Maison Margiela), for a total of $29.6 million raised across three rounds. Acquisition-led growth has characterised the company's expansion strategy: in February 2024 Poke House acquired Poke House Belgium, having previously integrated the Ahi Poké brand into its portfolio. As of April 2026, headcount stood at approximately 625 employees spread across four continents, a figure testifying to the international scale reached by the brand starting from a single Milan location. The company also received a strategic investment from U.S.-based Sweetfin, strengthening its presence in the North American healthy fast-casual market. Poke House operates in the healthy fast-casual segment, which has seen strong expansion in recent years, driven by growing demand for food options perceived as healthier than traditional fast food while maintaining service times and prices compatible with everyday consumption. The company's ongoing challenge is maintaining sustainable margins in a sector marked by volatile ingredient costs and high local competition in each expansion market.