Carluccio's, the all-day Italian restaurant and food shop, has reported a 22% increase in turnover for the 16 weeks to 14 January 2007 compared to the previous year.
The company said it was on track to reach its target of opening a minimum of five sites for its 2007 financial year, with two Carluccio's opened since the year end.
The group reported that these stores, at The Brunswick, Bloomsbury, London, and at Spitalfields in the City of
London, were both cash positive in their first month of trading.
Carluccio’s said that its contractors have commenced fit out of its third opening, in The Trafford Centre, Manchester, which it said confirms the group’s commitment to gradually extend its geographical spread beyond its London base.
Both the Trafford Centre site and the company's fourth opening of the year, in Walton-on-Thames, are due to open spring/summer 2007.
The company also said that as expected the landlord of its retail only outlet in Neal Street, Covent Garden, has chosen to re-develop the site following the recent expiry of the lease.
A new larger Covent Garden store, with a full restaurant and retail offering, is scheduled to open later this financial year completing the company's five store opening commitment.
The company currently operates from 28 locations.
The group also announced it had secured a further site in Quakers Friars, Bristol, which is a long-term development and is currently expected to open in its 2008/09 financial year.
