La Mama business up 50 percent

Mahu also owns the Cafepedia coffee house chain. He estimates a cumulated turnover of €9 mln by the end of the year for the two chains, 13 percent higher year-on-year, and €12 mln worth of business in 2008, based on the expansion of both restaurant and coffee house networks.

Mahu's business is currently operating seven La Mama restaurants and two Cafepedia coffee houses. This summer, the first La Mama unit was opened outside Bucharest, in the seaside resort of Mamaia, following a €200,000 investment. "We are going to open four further restaurants and six coffee shops next year, both in Bucharest and other cities. For now we are not planning to expand outside Romania," Mahu said.