Harry Ramsden's drives Welcome Break deal

13-Nov-2013 - Last updated on 13-Nov-2013 at 16:48 GMT

Rod McKie of Welcome Break (left) with Joe Teixeira of Harry Ramsden's

Harry Ramsden’s has unveiled plans to open at two motorway service stations with the creation of up to 20 new full and part time jobs.

The fish and chip restaurant brand, which currently operates 26 outlets across the country, will serve commuters and leisure travellers at the Welcome Break Woodall, located on the M1 near Sheffield between junctions 30 and 31 from 11 December.

A second Harry Ramsden's restaurant will open at Welcome Break’s Oxford Services, at Junction 8a on the M40, early in 2014.

The move forms part of an ambitious growth strategy for the fish and chip firm, which intends to open up to 250 franchised outlets within the next five years.

Rod McKie, Welcome Break chief executive officer described Harry Ramsden’s as a brand that is known and loved throughout the UK. “This is a partnership that we predict to go from strength-to-strength and we fully expect that we will be introducing Harry Ramsden’s to other Welcome Breaks in the very near future,” he said.

Joe Teixeira, chief executive officer of Harry Ramsden’s added: “Welcome Break presents an exciting opportunity for us, as it is our firm intention to make Harry Ramsden’s more accessible to the myriad of fans it has built up over 85 years. We view the opening of these two new outlets as the next step in making that ambition a reality."

The move follows the brand's unveiling of plans to return to Yorkshire through a franchise deal with JVP Ventures.

It is hoped that up to 50 new sites will open in the region by 2018.