IRC Individual Rest

    RNS Number : 5204A
  Individual Restaurant Company PLC
  04 August 2008
   

    Individual Restaurant Company plc

    Pre Close Trading Update    


    Individual Restaurant Company plc ("the Group"), the leading restaurant operator with 30 premium casual dining restaurants throughout
the UK which predominantly trade under the Piccolino (20 sites) and Restaurant Bar & Grill (10 sites) formats, announces an update on
current trading ahead of its interim results announcement for the 26 week period ending 29th June 2008.

    The Group's restaurants have performed well and trading is in line with the Board's expectations. Given the challenging consumer
environment, this performance demonstrates the ongoing appeal of both the Piccolino and Restaurant Bar & Grill brands. Sales, excluding the
disposed Bank restaurant in Aldwych and closed Zinc restaurant in Birmingham, have increased by 21% against the comparative period in 2007.
This growth was primarily driven by the impact of the six new sites opened during 2007. Four Piccolino restaurants were opened in Sheffield
(June), West Didsbury (June), Ilkley (November) and Exchange Square in the City of London (December), with two Restaurant Bar & Grills being
opened in Liverpool (March) and Tunbridge Wells (September). 

    The Board remains confident that the Group's target of seven new restaurant openings for the current year will be achieved. Two
Piccolino restaurants, in Birmingham and York, have recently opened in June and July respectively and two further Piccolino restaurants, in
Hale and Bristol, are also currently in build and are expected to be opened in Q3. Three more sites have been secured for 2008. Harrogate
(Bar & Grill) and Clitheroe (Piccolino) will open towards the end of the current year. It is anticipated that Aberdeen (Piccolino) will open
very close to the end of the current year.  

    In addition to the current pipeline of openings, the Board is pleased with the future site pipeline for 2009 which already looks strong,
providing confidence that the current rollout momentum can be maintained.

    With the widely publicised pressures on the UK economy and consumer spending, it is likely trading conditions will remain challenging
over the coming months. Despite this, the Board remains confident that the Group's business model will continue to prove both beneficial and
resilient in such conditions. 

    The Company's interim results will be announced on 29th September. 

    4 August 2008

    Enquiries:

 Individual Restaurant Company Plc       Tel: 0161 839 5511
 Steven Walker, Chief Executive
 Vernon Lord, Finance Director
 Altium                                  Tel: 0161 831 9133
 Mike Fletcher
 College Hill     
 Justine Warren                          Tel: 020 7457 2020

           

                             

                   


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