Carluccio’s Trafford Centre site ‘under review’

ITALIAN restaurant and retail chain Carluccio’s could close its Trafford Centre site, it emerged today.

The London-based company said it had not performed as well as had been expected and would be reviewed in January.

A spokesman said: “We have no plans to close the site at the moment, but this position will be reviewed in January. Footfall at the location has not been as good as we would have liked.”

By contrast, the outlet in Manchester;s Spinningfields is performing strongly with “turnover increasing significantly year-on-year,” Carluccio’s said.

The casual dining business – which combines traditional Italian food with food retail – declared a £1.7m impairment and “onerous leas charge” in its annual results, relating to the Trafford Centre restaurant and an outlet in Oxford.

The Trafford Centre site is on the ground floor of the Great Hall atb the giant shopping complex owned by Peel Holdings.

In the 52 weeks to September 27 Carluccio’s saw turnover rise 8% to £69m, but profits dipped from £5.6m to £4.7m.