Trading Update

RNS Number:4162Q
Individual Restaurant Company PLC
31 January 2007

Individual Restaurant Company Plc

("IRC" or "the Group")



Trading Update



Individual Restaurant Company, the operator of 24 premium casual dining
restaurants throughout the UK which predominantly trade under the Piccolino and
Restaurant Bar & Grill formats, today announces that it has experienced strong
trading for the five week Christmas trading period to 31 December 2006.



Compared to the same period last year, total sales were up 30% across the entire
restaurant estate.  Sales increased by 59% at the 17 Piccolinos and Restaurant
Bar & Grill formats, whilst the Bank and Zinc estate was down 2%.  The growth in
sales was driven, in part, by six new openings completed during the year.  Five
new Piccolino restaurants were opened in Nottingham, Newcastle, Virginia Water
and Wandsworth and Wimbledon in London, as well as the Group's fourth Restaurant
Bar & Grill in Leeds.  The Group also experienced a strong performance from its
like for like estate.



The IRC and Bank companies were officially combined on 22 December 2006
following admission of the enlarged group to AIM following the acquisition and
fundraising.  The integration of the two companies is currently underway and
progressing well.  Plans to introduce our key business drivers into the Bank and
Zinc sites are on track to be in place by the end of March.  In addition, plans
to transfer the Group's accounting function to Head Office in Manchester are due
to be completed one month ahead of schedule.



Looking ahead, the Group plans to open six new restaurants in the current year.
Three of these new sites have already been secured for Piccolinos in Sheffield
and Didsbury and for a Restaurant Bar & Grill in Liverpool.   These will be open
by July 2007.



The Board is also pleased to announce the appointment of Angus Gregory as
property director for the Group at an operational level.  Angus has a wealth of
experience from The Restaurant Group and latterly, Nandos.  His principal role
will be to identify future sites to satisfy the Group's expansion plans going
forward.  Angus joins the Group with effect from 1 April 2007.



IRC will be releasing its preliminary results for the year ended 31 October 2006
on Monday 26 March 2007.  Going forward, results are likely to be produced
within a shorter timeframe, in line with industry best practice.



Steven Walker, Chief Executive of IRC, commented:



"I am delighted to report such positive trading over the Christmas period and
continued progress with the integration of our two companies.  We remain on
target to have completed three new openings in the first half, as well as
converting Zinc in Heddon Street to a Piccolino format.  We continue to see the
Piccolino brand as the principal growth driver for the Group's expansion going
forward however we are also having great success with Restaurant Bar & Grills
and will continue to roll out this concept on an opportunistic basis."



                                                                 31 January 2007




Enquiries:

Individual Restaurant Company Plc                           Tel:   [phone]
Steven Walker, Chief Executive
Vernon Lord, Finance Director

College Hill                                               Tel:    [phone]
Justine Warren


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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