Gusto targets four sites in 2016 as it reports 22% sales increase: Gusto, which operates 12 premium, modern Italian restaurants across the north of England and Scotland, has reported overall sales, excluding discontinuing operations, increased 22% to £18.2m in the year ended 31 March 2015 with like-for-like sales growing 6.9% and site Ebitda up 15% on the previous year. In December 2014 a flagship restaurant in Manchester’s Spinningfields area of the city centre opened with a £1.3m transformation of a grade II-listed building. During the period, Gusto completed its management buy-out (MBO), which saw Palatine Private Equity acquire a 69.51% stake in the company in April 2014, with the aim of growing the brand to approximately 26 sites over four to five years. Following the year-end, Gusto stepped up its expansion programme launching a second restaurant in Scotland in Glasgow in April, and opening its first restaurant in Leeds in July. The company plans to open at least four restaurants in 2016, with openings scheduled firstly in Lytham St Annes followed by expansion into the Midlands in Leamington Spa and Birmingham city centre as part of the Grand Hotel development in the Cathedral Quarter of the city. Sue Crimes, chief executive of Gusto, said: “Since completion of the MBO, Gusto has continued to go from strength to strength. We have grown our portfolio of outstanding restaurants moving into new and exciting cities across the country. Gusto is an exceptional brand synonymous with premium dining and high-quality service set in stylish locations. This is an exciting time for the company and together with Palatine and Living Ventures we have substantial funding and capability to successfully expand and achieve our target portfolio of 26 restaurants in the next four to five years.”