Companies: BGO   

Despite a 52% leap in turnover to £16.96m, interim pre-tax profits dropped 14% to £1.63m. The restaurateur boasts an 18-strong portfolio ranging from the mussel and chips brand to such upmarket classics as The Ivy, Daphne's and Le Caprice. Expansion of the Bierodrome concept continued, as did the roll-out of the newest concept, the pizza and pasta joint Strada. Following January's profits warning, the group added that the bottom line was affected by the 'unsatisfactory performance' of the Dublin and New York restaurants, prompting the resignation of operations director Tim Power earlier in February. Despite being tipped repeatedly by the now disgraced Mirror's City Slickers and boasting Luke Johnson as chairman, shares languish at a 52-week low.