Prezzo toasts strong first-half
Italian restaurant chain Prezzo posted a jump in first-half revenues and profits as it continues to roll out its expansion programme. Sales rose 14 per cent to £68.1m in the 26 weeks to 1 July while adjusted pre-tax profits increased by four per cent to £7.6m.
The company opened 12 restaurants in the period bringing its estate to 193 and aims to have opened around 25 by the end of the year. Chairman Michael Carlton said: “With the landmark of 200 restaurants fast approaching, we have been strengthening the Prezzo team and increasing investment in training, marketing and other support functions within the business.” He added that the Olympics and the Jubilee had resulted in greater peaks and troughs in trading and presented “both opportunities and challenges for restaurant operators.”