Carluccio's reports strong growth despite consumer slowdown

Italian restaurant and deli chain Carluccio's has so far avoided the consumer slowdown, with a strong set of results for the 16 weeks to 13 January.

The group reported an 18% rise in like-for-like turnover compared with last year during the period, adding that "Christmas trading was firm despite discernable evidence of consumer pressure".

Carluccio's added that trading since Christmas has been inline with expectations and that its expansion plans were on track.

Carluccio's, which currently operates 34 restaurants, plans to open three more in the year to September, in Heathrow's Terminal 5, St Pancras International station and Cambridge, as well as a franchised operation in Ireland this spring.

The company recently opened restaurants in Stratford upon Avon and Manchester with a site in Leicester due to open this September.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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