Frankie & Benny’s owner defies consumer spending slowdown predictions

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has continued to defy even its own expectations of a slowdown in consumer spending by delivering healthy growth in the first months of the year.

The restaurant group, which runs Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Blubeckers, saw like-for-like sales increase 5% in the 18 weeks to 4 May.

Total revenues for the 18 weeks are 21% ahead of the same period last year and the company said it had opened seven new sites this year, with four at the new Heathrow Terminal 5.

TRG chairman Alan Jackson said: “This is a solid start to 2008 and represents very satisfactory progress compared with the same period last year.”

In March TRG restated its commitment to open 30 to 35 sites during 2008 with up to 10 of these under the pub chain Brunning & Price, which it acquired last October for £32m.

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Restaurant Group buys pub-restaurant operator Brunning & Price for £32m >>

By Chris Druce

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