The parent company of Café Rouge, Bella Italia, and Frankie & Benny’s has significantly reduced its losses after cutting 700 jobs in the last financial year.
According to new accounts filed with Companies House, The Big Table Group reduced its headcount from 4,236 to 3,531 between 2023 and 2024, as reported by City AM.
As a result, the group’s pre-tax loss decreased from £13.8 million to £4.4 million during the same period.
The accounts also show an increase in turnover to £32.5 million, up from £31.6 million the previous year.
The Big Table Group owns several brands, including Las Iguanas, BananaTree, Amalfi, Filling Station, Coast to Coast, Chiquito, Firejacks, and Ed’s Easy Diner, in addition to Café Rouge, Bella Italia, and Frankie & Benny’s.
The company acquired Frankie and Benny’s and Chiquito sites from The Restaurant Group in September 2023, with the Wagamama owner contributing £7.5 million to support the transfer of 75 underperforming locations.
Bella Italia owner eyeing improved 2025
The board stated: “The cost-of-living impact on the consumer continued to adversely impact the hospitality sector.
“With impact on discretionary spend, and how the consumer chose to eat out, the differential between peak and off-peak trading became more evident.
“Across the year, key trading weeks such as holiday and event periods continued to peak, with softer volumes during other parts of the year.
“Trading across the festive season of 2023 was ahead of the prior year, with other peaks of growth at various points across the year.
“Within a competitive and tough market, we strategically focused on profitable sales, ensuring that value opportunities to the guest remained profitable for the company.
“Sales increased year on year and sales to profit conversion was stronger with overall EBITDA [Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation] for the company ahead of the prior year.
“The company continued to successfully navigate the inflation headwinds, with favourable cost reduction in meat, poultry, seafood, cheese and dairy.
“The procurement, operations and food delivery teams worked with our key suppliers and partners to successfully reduce our food and beverage costs year on year whilst ensuring that our food quality delivered positive guest scores.
“Utility costs continued to be high but were lower year on year given lower market pricing.
“Overall, our cost controls were strong, providing improved profit conversion.”
On its future, The Big Table added: “The cost of living continues to impact consumer confidence and spend.
“The directors anticipate that 2025 will remain challenging for the sector with signs of improvement from mid-2025.
“Continued focus on the guest and the guest experience will be important, whilst ensuring that the economic model supports both profit and cash generation.”
