A tasty profit rise

GARFUNKEL’S and Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group served up record sales and profits, providing a mouth-watering appetiser for boss Danny Breithaupt’s first day in the job on Monday.

Half-year revenue increased by 10pc to £308m, helped by the group opening up 17 restaurants during the first half. Excluding new sites, sales grew by 2.5pc despite a decline in June blamed on the World Cup. Pre-tax profit grew by 12.3p to £33.7m and the interim dividend by 16pc to 6.1p.

Shares fell 15p to 644p.