La Tasca plans assault on leisure market

Restaurant group La Tasca will enter the leisure park market next year with a new concept aimed at families.

Sam & Maxie's will be a new bar, grill and smokehouse with an average size of 1,370sq m.

James Horler, La Tasca's chief executive, said the leisure park market was an area the company's senior management team had considerable experience in, and a new concept would create the best returns for shareholders.

Horler said: "La Vi-a continues to impress and we are seeing good opportunities to expand both of our brands… which has encouraged us to raise our rate of expansion from 10-12 units to 14 new restaurants each year."

La Tasca is also building a new restaurant in Baltimore at the Harbour Place, which is due to open February 2006, and planning a new La Tasca for Alexandria, Virgina.

Group turnover in the six months to 30 October 2005 increased 18.5% to £27m, from £22.7m in 2004. Pre-tax profit soared 92% from £1.4m last year to £2.7m in 2005.

By Chris Druce

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