The Restaurant Group exceeds 500 sites for the first time

It opened 44 new premises last year including 14 Frankie & Benny's and nine Chiquito restaurants, and plans to open a similar number of sites this year.

The firm believes the brands have "substantial roll-out scalability in the UK" to eventually reach more than 850 restaurants.

In the latest financial results for the year ended 27 December 2015, TRG reported revenues of £685m, up 7.9% from 2014. Like-for-like sales increased by 1.5% during the period and the group's operating profit increased by 10.5% to £88.9m.

Chief executive Danny Breithaupt said: "TRG has made good progress in 2015 and despite difficult trading conditions, delivered double digit growth in profits and earnings per share."

He said the business would continue to face challenges in 2016 but was confident the firm would successfully navigate its way through the challenging external environment.

He added: "TRG is a people business and these results could not have been achieved without the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our teams across the country."

During 2015 the group created more than 1,500 new jobs, employing over 16,000 people in total.

After 10 weeks trading in 2016 total sales were up 6% while like-for-like sales were down by 1.5%.

TRG operates more than 500 restaurants and pub restaurants throughout the UK. In addition to its Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito brands, which currently have 261 and 86 units respectively, it also operates Coast to Coast, a pub restaurant business and a concessions business.

Earlier this year the firm announced Debbie Hewitt will be succeeding Alan Jackson as chairman.

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