New Year jobs boost for UK

Burger King plans to open 300 new outlets over the next five years

A dose of seasonal cheer for the UK economy has come from two High Street chains, which have announced expansion plans involving the creation of over 2,000 new jobs.

The fast food chain Burger King has said it plans to open 35 new outlets next year which will mean it taking on 1,250 new workers.

Meanwhile the budget retailer Peacocks has said it is aiming to open about 40 new stores over the next 12 months, which will create 1,000 new jobs.

Bigger Burger

Burger King has seen profits hit by the recent foot-and-mouth and BSE crises, which have deterred people from eating beef.

But the company's UK general manager Eric Bonnot said he remained upbeat.

"Despite some difficult circumstances, 2001 was a successful year for Burger King in the UK," he said.

"We have enjoyed consistently good sales levels and the long-term growth prospects are very encouraging."

The expansion by the chain is part of a plan to increase the number of Burger King eateries by 300 over the next five years, an expansion which should boost staff numbers by 11,000.

Burger King is currently owned by Diageo, but the drinks giant intends to sell the burger chain when sales pick up.

Further expansion

Like Burger King, Peacocks' expansion plans are part of a long-term growth strategy which is intended to double the chain's store numbers from 344 at present to around 700.

The Cardiff-based company specialises in selling low-cost items including clothes, and currently employs about 5,000 people.

As well as its own stores, Peacocks also sells its clothing ranges in Woolworths' out-of-town stores, Big W.