Shropshire restaurants part of group's big profits rise
A pub and restaurant giant with five sites in Shropshire today outlined ambitious expansion plans after posting a multi-million pound rise in profits.
The Restaurant Group, which owns the Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito brands, reported a seven per cent rise in profits to £26.1 million for the first half of this year and saw turnover top £252 million. It pledged to use part of the money to open 17 more sites around the UK this year.
The company also owns the Brunning & Price pub restaurant business, which includes The Armoury in Shrewsbury, The Fox at Chetwynd Aston, the Combermere Arms at Burleydam near Whitchurch, and is now refurbishing The Woodbridge on the banks of the River Severn at Coalport.
Group chief executive Andrew Page said: "Since the beginning of the year we have opened 13 new restaurants and we expect to open a total of 25 to 30 for the full year. Trading continues to be good."
He said the Brunning & Price pub restaurant division had traded well in the first six months, delivering 'good levels of sales and profits'.
The Restaurant Group, which also runs the Garfunkel's chain, has more than 400 sites, including a concessions business with a presence at all main UK airports.
Shropshire's only Frankie & Benny's site is at the Forge Retail Park in Telford.
