Raymond Blanc's restaurants empire reveals sales jump

Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc’s restaurant and pubs empire celebrated a sales jump on Tuesday despite a “difficult” market.

Brasserie Bar Co — behind Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company — revealed turnover rose 14% to £46.8 million in the year to last July.

It was boosted by new openings, including in Fulham, and served 1.6 million guests during the period.

The firm, which last year secured £20 million funding from challenger bank OakNorth to aid expansion, wants to open 24 new sites in the next five years. This is despite headwinds that have hit the wider restaurants sector, including higher wage bills.

Mark Derry, the boss of Brasserie Bar Co said: “We look forward to growing our estate and our team despite industry challenges."

The company is owned by management, including Blanc, and UK private equity firm Core Capital.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, restaurants chain Bill’s appointed former Punch Taverns boss Duncan Garrood as its new chief executive with immediate effect.

He replaces Mark Fox who has stepped down because of “personal reasons”.