Pizza and pasta restaurant chain Ask Central said trading has continued to be "particularly robust".

The firm runs the Zizzi and iTs Cafe restaurant chains and employs about 2,500 people.

Early indications suggest trading results for 2001 will be "fully in line with expectations for both sales and profitability," it said.

Ask Central also announced it has expanded its board by two positions as it prepares for continued growth.

In 2000, Ask Central made profits of �10.4m in 2000 on sales of �61.1m.

Shares in the firm closed 7p up at 194p in London on Thursday.

The shares ended their first day of London trading, in January 1997, at 35.5p.