Ed's Easy Diner plans rapid UK expansion

Ed's Easy Diner, the US-style burger chain, has revealed plans to expand rapidly over the next two to three years after sales rose by more than 11% in the year to October 8.

The group, which operates sites in London's Soho, the Trocadero centre in the capital and Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, hopes to open between 10 and 12 new diners and is in discussions with outside investors to back the expansion.

Ed's is also inviting potential franchisees to join the business for the first time in its 20-year history.

The move follows a strong year of trading which saw sales at its Trocadero branch up by 32% to £780,000 (2007: £592,200), sales at the Soho restaurant rising by 11% to £880,500 (2007: £795,000) while the Bluewater branch achieved a 2.5% sales boost to £1,460,500 (2007: £1,425,600).

Tim Bennett, operations director at Ed's parent company Apple Pan Holdings, said: "The targets for our sites are generally relatively conservative and the level of success achieved by all three exceeded our expectations, particularly in light of the economic climate.

"We are confident that Ed's will continue to grow from strength to strength and are looking forward to the year ahead," he added.

In October, Ed's hit out at a report in the London Evening Standard that claimed it was in financial difficulty, labelling the article as "incredibly inaccurate".

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By Daniel Thomas

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