House of Fraser on the hunt for food and drink firms as part of expansion plans

House of Fraser, the chain rescued by retail tycoon Mike Ashley last year, has hired restaurant property experts to find celebrity chefs and upmarket eateries to open up concessions within its department stores.

The firm was bought out of administration by Ashley-founded Sports Direct last year for £90 million. Ashley wants to turn it into the 'Harrods of the High Street'.

Property agent CDG Leisure has just been appointed to oversee the food and beverage strategy for 30 new 'Frasers' shops planned over the next five years.

CDG chairman David Abramson said: "We are already in discussions with a number of superb concepts including artisan coffee operators, celebrity chefs, food markets, juice bars and competitive leisure operators for this exciting project."

Abramson said his firm will be looking for companies to sign turnover based agreements, “avoiding fixed rents and rates which have been so problematic for eating out operators on the high street”. These agreements typically see occupiers pay rent linked to how sales are performing.