San Carlo targets expansion for concept
ITALIAN restaurant operator San Carlo is targeting new sites for its Ciccheti concept as it predicts a big hike in turnover.
The privately-owned company, run by Carlo Di Stefano and his son, Marcello, launched Ciccheti 12 months ago on the ground floor of the House of Frazer department store opposite its flagship King St West restaurant in Manchester.
The restaurant is based on the Venetian concept of “ciccheti” – or small-plate dishes.
San Carlo operates a restaurant in Leeds city centre and also The Flying Pizza in the Roundhay district of the city.
The firm, which currently operates nine Italian restaurants in the UK and a number of franchised outlets in the Middle East, is predicting a 50% increase in group turnover for 2011 to £33m.
It said revenues at Ciccheti are currently three times ahead of forecasts, with the outlet turning out around 4,700 dishes a week.
Managing director Marcello Di Stafano said: “It’s been a fantastic year for Ciccheti, we put our heart and soul into delivering a fresh and exciting dining experience with great food underpinning everything.
“We took our time in getting it right and this has been recognised in our feedback, award win and loyalty of our customers. We’re actively looking for more sites in London and Birmingham and hope to have our second Ciccheti open by 2012.”
