Restaurant Group expects 30 new sites in 2012 as turnover rises

By Luke Nicholls

10-Nov-2011 - Last updated on 10-Nov-2011 at 11:34 GMT

Related tags: New restaurants, Restaurant, Economics

The Frankie & Benny's operator has seen total sales up 6.5 per cent from last year

With a tough economic backdrop to the restaurant industry, including uncertainty over the outlook for employment and inflationary cost pressures, the 390-strong Restaurant Group (TRG), which manages brands including Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Garfunkle’s, appears to be weathering the storm.

Having opened 16 new restaurants so far this year, total sales for TRG are up 6.5 per cent compared with last year, while like-for-like sales are 2.75 per cent ahead.

“The performance of these new openings has been excellent and they are set to deliver strong returns,” read a TRG trading update. “We expect to open a total of between 24 and 26 new restaurants in 2011 and we continue to focus our attention on securing sites which will deliver strong returns.

“We currently expect to open between 25 and 30 new restaurants in 2012.

“TRG has seen consistent like-for-like sales growth in September and October. November has also started well and we remain on track to meet our expectations for the full year.”

With a pipeline of new sites, TRG expect to continue the positive trend into 2012, despite a predicted continuation of the current poor trading conditions.