Carluccio chain's profits up to pounds 5.6m; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Rensburg Sheppards.

ITALIAN food and cafe chain Carluccio's reported a 14% surge in full-year profits but warned it would not be immune to the worst conditions in the restaurant sector for at least 15 years.

Carluccio's, which has 41 outlets in the UK and Ireland, said it would continue its programme of "measured international expansion" next year with a franchise for six countries in the Middle East.

And the company said it now planned to open "at least" the five new stores planned for the current financial year, having opened three already. It added it could take advantage of the pressured restaurant property market and its own cash position to "move forward more quickly if opportunities arise".

Carluccio's posted profits before tax of pounds 5.6m for the 53 weeks to September, compared with pounds 4.9m in 2007.

It said current trading was "satisfactory, achieved without significant discounting" and in line with expectations.

The company said of the economic environment: "Conditions similar to this have not been experienced by the restaurant sector for at least 15 years and along with the rest of the sector, Carluccio's cannot be totally immune."