TGI serves up plan to expand

Restaurant chain TGI Friday’s is seeking to double its number of venues across the UK after enjoying a rise in profits last year.

American-style eating has been popular with TGI Fridays fans and now expansion and a Fast Track concept are on their way

The American-themed eatery has 60 sites, including branches in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and chief executive Karen Forrester aims to grow that figure to 120 within the next six years.

TGI Friday’s is also trialling a concept restaurant at railway stations and other transport hubs, where it aims to serve customers within ten minutes of ordering. The first Fast Track site is due to open at Manchester Piccadilly station in June.

Forrester said: “Whether guests are looking for a quick coffee or a succulent sandwich, we’ll have lots of options for anyone passing through.”

Pre-tax profits at the chain rose to £8.8 million in the year to December, up from £7.5m a year earlier, on sales 9.5 per cent higher at £161.8m.