Harry Ramsden’s, the Boparan Ventures-owned, iconic fish & chip shop chain, has put plans to launch a branded offer into the pub sector on the backburner after receiving an overwhelming response from respective franchisees to take on its core format, M&C Report understands.
Chief executive Joe Teixeiria told M&C Report: “We have recently been overwhelmed with franchising and product licensing enquiries and we are in advanced negotiations to secure a number into reality. I am still keen to pursue the pub idea but this has now been parked for the time being. We will return to it later this year or early next year.”
He said the group had had a good Christmas with “excellent like-for-like growth” and that this had continued into the new year.
The company had been in talks with three listed pub groups regarding a diluted version of the brand’s menu launched across a company’s tenanted estate and a “serve here” concept extended onto menus in managed sites with external branding.
Last year, the group signed a franchise agreement to open 50 sites across Yorkshire by 2018.
At the time, Teixeira said: “We are extremely hopeful that this is just the first of many such announcements in the coming months, and anticipate as many as 250 new outlets opening within the next five years.”
The company is also continuing to update its existing core estate and evolve the brand.
