Franco Manca pizza prices won't be rising because of Brexit

Pizza prices won’t be rising because of Brexit, the owner of the Franco Manca restaurant chain suggested on Friday as it revealed a 43% first-half sales leap.

Fulham Shore, which is also behind The Real Greek brand, said it is working closely with European food suppliers to make sure any adjustment of import prices “is kept to a minimum”.

Chairman David Page said that the firm’s plans to expand in London — with six more restaurants, on top of its current 43 sites, expected in the year to March 2018 — has kept partners, including olive oil makers in Crete, “relatively happy”.

Page told the Standard: “Our suppliers are being understanding because they don’t want to lose our custom. As long as we keep expanding and they see order sizes increase, we are finding that they are prepared to take a hit on profit margins rather than hike up prices.”

The firm’s revenue rose 43% to £19.9 million in the six months to September 25 from a year earlier, with pre-tax profits increasing to £803,000 from £187,000.

It said it is also in talks with High Street retailers to open up within their department stores where there is excess space.