Wildwood operator reports 24% rise in PBT: Wildwood operator Tasty has reported sales rose 26% to £13,794,000 (H1 2013: £10,979,000) in the 26 weeks ended 29 June. Operating profit, before pre-opening costs, was up 16% to £1,210,000 (H1 2013: £1,045,000). Pre-tax profit climbed 24% to £973,000 (H1 2013: £787,000). Four new sites opened in the period and three sites opened since the period end. During the period, capital expenditure of £1,962,000 (2013: £2,511,000) was incurred. The company is currently undertaking construction on two sites, which are expected to open in Q4 of 2014. Overall, the net cash outflow for the period was £474,000 (2013: £55,000). As at 29 June 2014, the company had a net cash balance of £1,933,000 (2013: net borrowings £944,000). The Group has an available banking facility of £4,000,000. The new sites will bring the total number of restaurants operated by the company to 37, which will consist of 6 Dim T, 29 Wildwood and Wildwood Kitchens and two others. Last month, Tasty opened a Wildwood hybrid in Ludlow, Shropshire incorporating the renowned De Grey’s tearoom into the front of the premises. De Grey’s closed in January this year and the new opening has incorporated a cafe, bakery and tearoom. The restaurant company first planned to put a Wildwood restaurant in the building, but, swayed by the popularity of the tearooms locally, decided to keep them running, creating a deli and bakery as well. Jonathan Plant, joint chef executive of Tasty, told the local newspaper: “At first we weren’t sure, but since we’ve taken over the site we’ve had so many letters of interest and sadness that De Grey’s had gone that we want to retain as much as possible. The big difference will be at the rear, where there will be a kitchen doing our high-end pizza, pasta and grill menu. But we’ve spent a lot of time and effort to be sensitive to what it was, and moulding our concept to De Grey’s. It’s the first time we’ve done a deli, the first time we’ve done a bakery.”