Despite slower sales, Pizza Express is planning to expand in France, Spain and Japan and has launched its first advertising campaign in its 36-year history.

The restaurant chain is looking for suitable properties in which to set up 15 to 20 outlets of about 300-400sq metres in size. France has a market where we will open and we already have five outlets under construction in Spain, said business development director, Matthew Allen. One Pizza Express is already trading in Japan.

The £1m radio and poster advertising campaign is carrying the strapline PizzaExpress - word of mouth since 1965 and features four decades of satisfied customers passing on the good news to friends and acquantances.

Like for like sales in its London restaurants were static in the 16 weeks to 28 October, but sales were better outside London, where like-for-like sales were up in the same period. At the group's annual general meeting this month, overall like-for-like sales growth was reported as 2 per cent.

The company is insisting that any slowdown in the UK economy could be an opportunity, suggesting that as more properties become available, rents become more competitive and building costs come down.

Pizza Express also believes it will be viewed as good value as customers trade down from more expensive restaurants.