Paramount plans Chez Gérard and Bertorelli spin-offs

Restaurant group Paramount has outlined plans to grow its business by using spin-offs from its Chez Gérard and Bertorelli offerings.

Next month sees the opening of its first Caffé Bertorelli in Bristol. Designed as a lower-cost, more informal offering than its namesake, the site will feature a pizza oven and a "mini version" of its new Deli Bertorelli concept.

The group is currently turning a former storage room adjacent to its Bertorelli restaurant in London's Charlotte Street into a second Deli Bertorelli, complete with bakery and wine store.

Chief executive Nick Basing told Caterer the group will be testing another product, Brasserie Chez Gérard, in a Greater London location "quite shortly", and is interested in rolling out stand-alone delis.

The expansion plans follow Basing's successful turnaround of the company, which reported a 5.6% rise in like-for-like sales for the year to 30 June.

"We're aggressively seeking to grow the business and add sites," said Basing.

"The turnaround is nigh on complete, and we're really excited about going into the next phase, which is to grow the business."

However, the group has no plans to grow or rebrand its Café Fish and Livebait brands, he said.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 26 August 2004