Urban Dining confident Tootsies will boost trading

Urban Dining has put its faith in the strength of the Tootsies restaurant brand to see it through challenging conditions caused by weak consumer spending.

Chairman Glen Tomlinson said that after a slow start to the year, trading had failed to pick up significantly, and was unlikely to do so during the remainder of their financial year.

"However, we remain confident that Tootsies has the potential to be rolled out nationwide and we are actively seeking suitable sites to build upon two recent openings in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds," said Tomlinson.

The company now has 26 restaurants and another four under construction. Tomlinson reiterated the company's desire to add up to two more restaurant brands to the group.

Turnover in the six months to 31 July was £9.3m.

Pre-tax profit was £625,000 compared with a loss of £18,000 in the same period the year before.

By Chris Druce

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