August like-for-likes ‘markedly up' at Franco Manca thanks to eat out scheme

Franco Manca owner Fulham Shore has reported that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has driven like-for-like sales "markedly up" for the first two weeks in August, compared to the same period in 2019.

It said that despite some restaurants still being closed, it had achieved one of its highest ever weekly turnover periods in the second week of August.

In a trading update Fulham Shore said that 50 out of its 51 Franco Manca sites would be open by the end of next week, along with 16 of its 18 the Real Greek restaurants. Those that remain closed are in the City and West End of London. They will only reopen when "office tenants and theatregoers return".

A new site on the Cut near Waterloo in London is also set to open next month.

Fulham Shore added that it had now reached agreements with 40% of its landlords to waive, defer or reduce rents, while almost all of its employees are now back off furlough.