WHITBREAD, which employs more than 800 people in East Lancashire, is buying the bar and restaurant operator Pelican for £133 million.
Whitbread said the acquisition was part of the group's strategy of expanding its restaurant activities. "Pelican is a perfect strategic fit and moves Whitbread closer to realising our main objective of becoming the UK's leading retailer in eating out, hospitality, drinks and leisure," said chief executive Peter Jarvis.
"We have a highly successful track record in rolling out branded retail businesses and the acquisition of Pelican provides a major opportunity for Whitbread to accelerate the growth of the Pelican business throughout the UK."
Pelican operates 100 outlets, principally under the Cafe Rouge and Dome brands, in London.
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