Hey Prezzo, expansion plans for Scotland

Italian restaurant chain Prezzo yesterday unveiled expansion plans for Scotland, after it posted a 21 per cent jump in half-year profits.

The firm is planning to open outlets in Aberdeen and Glasgow after buoyant trading gave it the confidence to rekindle growth plans. Chairman Michael Carlton added: "The board is confident of delivering a positive outcome for 2010 as a whole."

Prezzo, which recently unveiled a 3.1 million deal to snap up 11 restaurants and the Caffe Uno trademark, said underlying pre-tax profits rose to 6.2m in the six months to 27 June on sales up 11 per cent. The business has been boosted by the net addition of seven restaurants so far this year, taking its estate to 145.

It said it would focus on refurbishing and rebranding the 11 recently-acquired restaurants, before launching the new branches.