Sales up at Harry Ramsden's

Harry Ramsden's, the world's most famous fish and chip shop notched up its seventh successive years of increased sales, profits and earnings per share last year.

The 13 restaurants pushed turnover up by 8.9 per cent to £3.58 million, operating profit improved 16 per cent to £835,017 and pre-tax profit gained 16.6 per cent to £950,957.

The chain now has 11 restaurants in the UK, and plans expansion in Bournemouth, Cardiff and Belfast this year.

Ramdens' now has two international fish shops, including Hong Kong,. and will open Melbourne, Singpore and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this year.

In the UK, Ramsden's says the growing power of the brand name has allowed the group to move into frozen fish and into fish take-aways which it is conducting in a joint venture with Welbourne Ramsden's and trading under the name of Henry Higgins. Ramsden's is paying a final dividend of 3.5p a share giving it an unchanged 4.5p total for the year. The shares closed unchanged at 235p.