Strong December helps sales rise at The Restaurant Group

Sales at Frankie & Benny's owner Restaurant Group (TRG) rose 5% at outlets open at least a year in 2006, helped by a "strong" December, the company announced today.

The group, whose other brands include Garfunkel's and Chiquito, also revealed that it has been awarded four units at the new Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport, scheduled to open in March 2008.

Andrew Page, chief executive officer of TRG, said: "We enter 2007 in very good shape with a strong pipeline of new sites, leading brands and a highly motivated team,."

The company, which opened 47 new restaurants last year, said trading so far at those outlets has been "good."

Restaurant Group shares rose 7.75p, or 2.5%, to 318p in London on 5 January.

The stock has more than doubled in the past year, giving the company a market value of £620m.

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By Daniel Thomas

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