Harry Ramsden's Set for Expansion Under New Owner

LONDON, January 20 - As fish and chips celebrate their 150th birthday, the world's most famous
fish and chip shop chain, Harry Ramsden's, has today been acquired by a
leading UK food and restaurant entrepreneur in a deal that's set to create
jobs, provide a springboard for expansion and revitalise this iconic brand.

The deal comes less than a year after the new owner, Ranjit Boparan of
Boparan Ventures Limited, rescued the flagging Fishworks restaurant chain,
bucking the recent trend of restaurant failures by turning the business into
a thriving success under CEO Marija Simovic and her team. And, this new
acquisition comes with ambitious plans to take Britain's longest established
restaurant chain to a whole new level of success.

"Harry Ramsden's is a great British institution and we want to put it
back on the map by focusing on the fundamental basics of superb service,
exceptional value and, most importantly, the very best tasting fish and chips
you can buy", said Mr. Boparan. "And, we're planning to open a further 100
locations within the next 5 years and expect to create around 600 new jobs,
taking care to ensure that customers are guaranteed the same consistent
quality at every single store".

Founded in 1928, there are currently 36 restaurants and takeaways within
the Harry Ramsden business including the largest fish and chip shop in the
world in Guiseley, Leeds.

At 43, Ranjit Boparan is one of the UK's most successful self-made young
entrepreneurs, owning a number of businesses in the food sector, responsible
for over 6,000 employees worldwide and combined annual sales approaching GBP1
billion.

    Notes:

    - As well as Fishworks and now Harry Ramsden's, Ranjit Boparan owns a
      number of successful businesses in the food sector including
      international poultry processor 2 Sisters Food Group
    - The new CEO of Harry Ramsden's is Marija Simovic, who will also
      continue to oversee Fishworks. Marija is a 20-year veteran of the food
      industry, mainly in various Board Director roles at YUM, the world's
      largest restaurant company
    - Harry Ramsden started selling fish and chips from a wooden hut in
      Guiseley, West Yorkshire in 1928 and his secret recipe is still used
      today
    - The UK has an estimated 10,500 fish and chip shops in a market worth
      around GBP1.2bn. On any Friday, they account for one in five takeaways.
      One in six UK adults enjoys fish and chips at least once a week, making
      it the nation's favourite takeaway
    - Fish and chips are the healthy choice, with typically a third fewer
      calories than other popular takeaways. A fish supper has approximately
      three times less fat than chicken tikka masala with rice and an average
      serving contains more than double the fibre found in a typical serving
      of brown rice or a bowl of porridge.

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