News Above5 Mar 2008 07:52
Restaurant Group FY adj pretax 43.5 mln stg, current year LFL sales up 4 pct.__
The Restaurant Group PLC said full-year adjusted pretax profit came in at 43.5 mln stg, up 24 pct on the previous year, and said the current year has started well with like-for-like sales up 4 pct.
While the owner of the Frankie & Benny's and Chiquitos chains, said it is encouraged by its performance in the light of tightening consumer conditions it warned it is not impervious to current economic factors. The group, which focuses on out-of-town leisure parks, added that second and third quarter like-for-like hurdles are demanding.
The Restaurant Group re-iterated its target of opening 30-35 new restaurants in 2008 after it opened 36 in 2007.
It declared a full-year dividend of 7.25 pence, up 21 pct on the previous year.