Waxy O’Connor’s and Rainforest Café operator reports sales and profits increase: Glendola Leisure, the 18-strong company headed by Alex Salussolia that operates the Waxy O’Connor’s chain and the Rainforest Café business off Piccadilly Circus, has reported turnover climbed to £28,511,000 in the year to 31 March, up from £24,814,000 the year before. Pre-tax profit rose slightly to £1,894,000 from £1,859,000 the year before. The company stated: “The group has had a very solid performance under very difficult circumstances.” The group acquired two freeholds in Scotland run under the Frankenstein brand and the lease of The Cricketers in Cobham during the year. Frankenstein’s in Glasgow was rebranded to Horton’s, a modern all-day bar offering, while The Cricketers, an Enterprise lease, saw investment inside and outside to create improved external space. Glendola made an operating profit for the year of £2,278,000 compared to £2,374,000 the previous year. Glendola added: “The group has a number of key performance indicators, the principal one of which is net Ebitda. At 31 March 2002, this was £2.1m (2011: £1m). This increase is primarily as a result of the acquisition of new businesses, funded through new borrowing, part way through the year.” Salussolia told Morning Briefing that the Olympics had been “very poor” with an improvement during the Paralympics. He added: “We’re now back to normal business levels and showing growth.” Glendola has a site in Scotland at contract stage, with plans for a new concept that will be the company’s second destination venue after the Cricketers. “It’s an exciting project for us,” said Salussolia.