26th Jan 2005 07:00
Mitchells & Butlers PLC26 January 2005 26 January 2005 MITCHELLS & BUTLERS PLC AGM TRADING UPDATE At the Annual General Meeting to be held at 11am this morning, Roger Carr,Chairman, will make the following comment on the Company's trading for the first16 weeks (to 15 January 2005) of the current financial year: "I am pleased to announce that our strategy to drive profitable sales growthcontinues to deliver good results. In the first 16 weeks of the year, sameoutlet like for like sales were ahead by 5.2%, 3.8% on an uninvested basis.Whilst the timing of the Christmas calendar has had some impact on the level ofsales growth, overall trading is in line with the Board's expectations. Total retail sales were up 5% led by strong growth in food sales, up 10%. Drinkssales were up 2%. The average price of food and drink during the period wasbroadly unchanged compared to last year and gross margins were held constant. In residential areas, which account for 70% of the business, same outlet likefor like sales were up 6.6%, 4.8% on an uninvested basis.Same outlet like for like sales on the high street were up 2.9%, 2.1% on anuninvested basis. The continuing recovery in Central London has helped to offsetthe more challenging trading conditions on the high street generally.A combination of good sales growth and selective site disposals continues todeliver strong cashflows. The share buyback of £100m announced in December isunderway with £19m spent to date. The additional pension contribution of £30mcommitted for the current year has been made. We have made a good start to the year although the outlook for consumer spendingis increasingly uncertain. The Board remains confident that our focus onoffering value and choice for customers leaves us well placed to captureadditional market share. This strategy, combined with leveraging our economiesof scale, will help us to overcome the regulatory and energy cost pressures thatthe business faces and generate further growth in earnings per share andcashflows as the year progresses." For further information please contact: Mitchells & Butlers plc:Kate Holligon Investor Relations 0121 498 5092Simon Ward Media 0121 498 5795 Finsbury Group James Murgatroyd 0207 251 3801 Notes for editors: - Mitchells & Butlers is the leading operator of managed pubs, owning and operating approximately 2,000 high quality pubs in prime locations nationwide. The Group's predominantly freehold estate is biased towards large pubs in residential locations. With some 3% of the pubs in the UK, Mitchells & Butlers has 9% of industry sales and average weekly take per pub of over three times the industry average.- Same outlet like for like sales include only those managed pubs that were trading for the two periods being compared. Approximately 95% of the estate is included in this measure.- Uninvested like for like sales include only those managed pubs that have not received expansionary investment of more than £30k in either year being compared. Approximately 85% of the estate is included in this measure. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statementsThis update contains certain forward-looking statements as defined under US law(Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). These forward-lookingstatements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate to historicalor current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as 'target','expect', 'intend', 'believe' or other words of similar meaning. By theirnature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative andinvolve risk and uncertainty. There are a number of factors that could causeactual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in orimplied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect thebusiness and the financial results are described in Item 3 Key Information -Risk Factors in the Mitchells & Butlers plc Form 20-F filed with the UnitedStates Securities and Exchange Commission on 16 March 2004. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Mitchells & Butlers