Famous Brands is planning more expansion in the UK as the owner of Debonairs Pizza and Steers seeks faster growth and increased revenue from currencies other than the rand. "I have spent a lot of time looking for a suitable asset so we can get some momentum in the UK," strategic adviser and former CEO Kevin Hedderwick said yesterday.The group has just completed its best year in the UK, yet the busi- ness was still "pedestrian", he said.Revenue in the UK gained 13% to R116-million in the year to end-February, yet fell by 2% in pound sterling terms, the firm said.Total sales were up 31% to R4.3-billion, and operating profit gained 18%.The company plans to add five more Wimpy outlets in the UK and one Steers restaurant.South African retailers have been expanding in the UK and elsewhere in part to diversify from the rand, which has weakened almost 30% against the US dollar in the past 12 months.Clothing group Foschini has bought two British chains since early last year, while investment company Brait acquired fashion retailer New Look.Famous Brands was targeting operating profit of R1-billion in the year through to February 2018, Hedderwick said, up from R792-million this year.The company is planning 292 new franchise restaurants this fiscal year, building on an end-February total of more than 2600 stores.It is also reviewing its licensing agreement in the Middle East as growth in the region had been "a little bit slow", Hedderwick said.Famous Brands' share price gained 2.1% to R119.50 by midday yesterday on the JSE, valuing the company at R11.9-billion. ..