Café Rouge owner plans ambitious expansion off the back of strong sales

27 July 2006
Café Rouge owner plans ambitious expansion off the back of strong sales

Restaurant operator Tragus plans to double the size of its Café Rouge estate and develop a third core brand off the back of surging sales.

Reporting full-year sales to 28 May, Tragus said turnover had increased 11.1% to £130m thanks to sales growth at its existing 160-strong estate and 12 new openings.

Tragus also launched its new Spanish tapas bar and cantina brand, Ortega, today, which it plans to develop with another three units before assessing whether to roll it out as a third core brand.

Tragus chief executive Graham Turner said: "2006 has been a year of considerable progress for our group, with a successful refinancing and our Café Rouge and Bella Italia brands performing well."

Since the year end the operator has opened a Café Rouge in Sheffield and has new Café Rouge and Bella Italia sites planned in Manchester, Exeter, Milton Keynes, Lakeside, Essex and Camberley, Surrey.

Turner believes the market will support a doubling of the 85-strong Café Rouge estate, the company's major brand.

In May, Tragus completed a £138m refinancing deal.

Tragus Holdings to pilot a Spanish restaurant brand >>

Tragus on the hunt for acquisitions >>

Café Rouge owner plans new brand >>

LGV buys Tragus for more than £90m >>

By Chris Druce

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