3rd Sep 2013 07:00
PRESS RELEASE
03 September 2013 |
GREENE KING plc
INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT
At its AGM today, Greene King will make the following Interim Management Statement for the 18 weeks to 1 September 2013.
CURRENT TRADING
Like-for-like (LFL) sales in our largest business, Retail, are up 4.6% after 18 weeks, with the difficult comparatives of the Jubilee and the European football last year offset by the better summer weather. Food continues to improve its share of our business, with LFL sales up 5.7%, while LFL accommodation sales are up 6.0%, helped by an increase in customers taking their holidays in the UK. LFL drink sales are up 3.7%. Regionally, we have again seen our strongest growth in the South East of England.
Our retail expansion has made further progress, with the retail estate reaching 1,000 sites when the latest Hungry Horse, the Walls End in North Tyneside, opened on 28 August.
In Pub Partners, average EBITDA per pub was up 5.8% after 16 weeks, while LFL EBITDA was up 2.7%.
Brewing & Brands core brand volume was up 2.7% after 18 weeks, led by Old Speckled Hen, the UK's no.1 premium ale brand, with growth of 7.9%. Total beer volume was up 1.5%.
Our balance sheet and cash generation remain strong and in line with our expectations.
OUTLOOK
There appear to be cautious signs of optimism in terms of recent UK macro-economic improvements. In turn, we are seeing indications of growing consumer confidence, which is reflected in our strong start to the financial year. This performance has been helped by some one-off factors including the feel-good factor from continued British sporting success and the arrival of the Royal Baby, combined with much improved weather over the summer months.
While the pace of the recovery remains uncertain, we believe that our strategy, tailored for the prevailing conditions, will continue to deliver improving returns, sustained earnings growth and attractive dividends for our shareholders. We look forward to another successful year.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Greene King plc | Rooney Anand, chief executive officer Matthew Fearn, chief financial officer
| Tel: 01284 763222 |
Capital MSL | Steffan Williams Simon Evans | Tel: 0207 307 5332
|
NOTES FOR EDITORS
· Greene King was founded in 1799 and is headquartered in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. It currently employs 22,000 people across its main trading divisions: Retail, Pub Partners and Brewing & Brands.
· It operates c. 2,300 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, of which c. 1,000 are retail pubs, restaurants and hotels. Its leading retail brands are Hungry Horse, Old English Inns and Loch Fyne Restaurants.
· Greene King is also the UK's leading cask ale brewer and premium ale brewer. Its core ale brands are Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, the no.1 premium ale in the UK, Abbot Ale, the no.1 premium cask ale in the UK and Belhaven Best, the no.1 ale brand in Scotland.
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