Comptoir Group narrows losses in ‘reset’ year

Comptoir Group has steadied its financial performance, reducing its loss after tax to £1.4m in the year ended 28 December 2025 from 2024’s £1.9m in the red.

The owner of Lebanese and Middle Eastern inspired Comptoir Libanais and Shawa restaurants also modestly grew group revenue by 0.2% on a like-for-like basis, from £34.6m in 2024 to £33m last year, having closed both Mediterranean restaurant Kenza in London and Comptoir Bluewater in Kent during the period.

Chief executive officer Chaker Hanna, who returned to the business in February 2025 after a three-year break, described it as a ‘reset and rebuilding’ year. He detailed his new board’s priority has been “to bring sharper operational focus across the business, strengthen the foundations of our guest proposition, and ensure our teams are equipped to deliver a consistent and competitive offer in a challenging trading environment”.

The group has shifted its emphasis to “placing value and experience at the centre of our proposition” as consumers have become increasingly discerning in how and where they choose to spend.

Hanna said: “During the first quarter of the year, whilst our total sales were only marginally down on a like for like basis, our covers were in decline by approximately 7% with our topline being supported by pricing adjustments introduced over the last couple of years. We did not feel this to be sustainable.”

Therefore, the Comptoir Group reviewed and refreshed menus, increasing portion sizes, refining presentation and strengthening consistency and packaging across channels.

“Importantly, we held prices firm despite the well‑documented increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance from April 2025,” said Hanna. “This was a bold decision, taken against rising cost pressure, but one that aligned with our belief and values that long-term guest loyalty is built on trust and fairness, not just on passing cost inflation to our customers through price increases.”

The company reported these measures lifted covers across its estate of 20 owned and six franchised locations, though it saw a small reduction in average customer spend.

Hanna added: “In the short term, the decision to strengthen our value proposition has created some pressure on our like-for-like sales growth. However, our intention was to rebuild momentum, reinforce our market position and create the conditions for sustainable growth. To entice back our old customers and attract new ones.”

Looking ahead, he said: “The operational improvements made throughout the year, combined with a stronger menu and improved value offering gives us confidence in the path ahead. We remain focused on driving continued improvement and expansion across the business for 2026 and beyond."

The flagship brand of the group, Comptoir Libanais, is a collection of 22 restaurants located across London, nationwide and international travel hubs, including cities such as Manchester, Bath, Birmingham, Oxford, Dubai and Milan.

The group also operates Shawa, serving traditional shawarma through a counter service model in Westfield and Bluewater shopping centres and Abu Dhabi, and Yalla-Yalla with a branch near Oxford Circus.

Comptoir Group has expanded internationally with its franchise partners Avolta, Areas and Qatar Airways, with restaurants in the Netherlands, Qatar, UAE and Italy.