The Giraffe chain of restaurants is to expand from 12 sites to between 25 and 30 outlets by the end of 2009.

The chain is focused on family-friendly eating, with an emphasis on healthy food and a menu that draws inspiration from all over the world.

There are currently 12 Giraffe sites in London, with four new locations planned for the capital’s Bloomsbury area, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Walton-on-Thames within the next six months.

Negotiations are also in place for new restaurants in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Oxford, Nottingham and Brighton with other cities under consideration including Portsmouth, Liverpool and Bath.

Managing director and founder of Giraffe, Russel Joffe, said: “We have grown slowly and steadily since our first opening in London’s Hampstead to create a strong business with a great culture through its staff and customers.

“We now feel ready and confident to take Giraffe around the UK with our highly motivated team.”

Backed by Luke Johnson’s Risk Capital Partners, investment in the group will be more than £3m by the end of 2006 while sales are projected to be around £15m by the end of the next financial year.

The group has also witnessed nearly a 100 per cent sales growth in the past 12 months, with openings at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Spitalfields and Wimbledon alongside the first Giraffe franchise at Heathrow airport.

Russel and Juliette Joffe opened the first Giraffe restaurant in Hampstead High Street, London, in 1998, following the sale of their successful Café Flo chain. Details: www.giraffe.net