Carluccio's (CARL. L), despite of the trading environment likely to remain uncertain in the near term; has somehow managed to peak to 8% rise in the first-half pretax profit. An Italian-themed café and restaurant chain, for this term, it had been helped by a strong turnover.

Carluccio’s said, "The impact of a coalition government following the outcome of the general election and the need to take dramatic action to reduce the budget deficit will only add to this climate of uncertainty”.

With recent opening of three new stores at Exeter, Wimbledon and Cardiff, the company raised its interim dividend by 14 percent to 0.8 pence. Compared to 2.5 million pounds of pretax profit a year ago, it was 2.7 million pounds in the first half ended March 2008. This hiked about 8% revenue also to 37.1 million pounds.

The company is now on a plan of expansion. Seven sites have been secured for its new stores; out of which five were programmed to open by the end of the year 2010.

On the London Stock Exchange, the Shares of Carluccio's closed at 92.75 pence on Friday.