Italian restaurant group San Carlo, famed for its celebrity clientele, has increased turnover by 12.5 per cent to £46.2m in the last year, with profit rising four per cent, as it targets further domestic and international expansion.
San Carlo was founded in 1992, when it opened its flagship Birmingham restaurant, and has garnered a reputation for providing authentic Italian food of the highest quality. The group now operates across the UK, with sites opened in Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and London. In addition to this, the firm has overseas restaurants in Bangkok, Kuwait and Beirut.
In addition to its original brand, the group has extended its offering to include Venetian tapas restaurants Cicchetti and cocktail bar, restaurant and late lounge brand Fumo, in addition to the acquisition of established Italian restaurant Signor Sassi in 2007.
Broadening horizons
The group is looking to further broaden its horizons in the coming years, with particular focus on promoting the Cicchetti and Fumo brands in the UK and overseas. Having already invested in new restaurants in London and Manchester in the last three months of 2014, additional sites have been secured in Qatar and Bahrain. Openings are also planned for restaurants in Istanbul and China, with the firm targeting £55m turnover next year.
Marcello Distefano, managing director at San Carlo, said: “It’s been another busy year for the group, and the success of our newer brands is evident in the excellent growth figures that we are witnessing at present.
“We’re focused on maintaining this momentum, and are looking to offer our innovative concepts to new and exciting markets. With our latest Fumo site in Manchester already proving popular, we’re looking forward to extending our offer into Asia, where we have seen considerable appetite from our Signor Sassi brand.”
Pictured: Marcello Distefano and his father
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