28th Feb 2007 07:01
Whitbread PLC28 February 2007 28 February 2007 Whitbread PLC Trading Statement Today, Whitbread PLC announces that total sales for Continuing Whitbread* forthe first 50 weeks of its financial year to 15 February 2007 have grown by 10.3% and like-for-like sales have grown by 4.3%. Sales for 50 weeks to 15 February 2007 % change vs prior year Total Like-for-Like Premier Travel Inn 16.5 8.1 Pub Restaurants 2.6 0.7 David Lloyd Leisure 6.0 2.7 Costa 22.1 6.7 Continuing Whitbread* at week 50 10.3 4.3 Continuing Whitbread* at week 39 10.1 3.9 Alan Parker, Chief Executive, Whitbread PLC comments: "Trading for the Group has strengthened throughout the year, with furtherincreases in total and like-for-like sales growth in all our businesses. Weexpect the full year outcome to be at the top end of the range of marketexpectations. Premier Travel Inn's growth rate has continued to increase, with total sales up16.5% and like-for-like sales up 8.1%. The London market remains particularlystrong. By the financial year-end we will achieve our target for the year ofadding 2500 Premier Travel Inn rooms to the estate, which includes 19 new hotelsdelivering 1700 rooms with the balance being achieved through extensions. Pub Restaurants have improved further with a total sales increase of 2.6 % andlike-for-like sales growth turning positive at 0.7 %. We have introduced broadermenus, with a wider range of price points and reduced discounts. 19 BrewersFayres have now been remodelled and we expect to complete the remodelling of theentire Beefeater estate by the end of April. We continue to see sustainedaverage sales uplifts of around 25% at our remodelled houses. David Lloyd Leisure has delivered a 6.0 % increase in total sales and a 2.7 %increase in like-for-like sales. The quality of the clubs continues to improve,and membership numbers in like for like clubs remain stable. We have made gainsin profitability through improved productivity and tight cost control. Costa has seen total sales up 22.1% and like-for-like sales growth increase to6.7%. The food offer has been improved, and 185 new stores have been opened,including 78 equity and 107 franchise stores, 64 of which were overseas. We continue to drive rapid expansion in our Premier Travel Inn and Costabusinesses, while Pub Restaurants and David Lloyd Leisure are making goodprogress. Our clear focus is to drive operating performance across the Group,and this strong finish to the year demonstrates that our actions are deliveringresults." Whitbread will announce its preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 1st March2007 on 24th April 2007. -ends- * Sales of Continuing Whitbread comprise Premier Travel Inn, the retained PubRestaurant estate, David Lloyd Leisure and Costa, but exclude the 239 disposedPub Restaurant sites, the Pizza Hut joint Venture, TGI Fridays, Supply Chainsales to third parties, and other sales related to Marriott. Conference call for analysts and investorsAlan Parker and Christopher Rogers will be available for a conference call at 8.30am today (UK time). To participate, dial +44 (0)20 73651836 A recording of the conference call will be available for seven days. To listen, dial +44 (0)20 7806 1970 and enter the passcode 3734439# For more information please contact: Investor Relations: Christopher Rogers, Group Finance Director +44 (0) 1582 889 422 Media: Miranda Acland/Celia Gordon Shute +44 (0) 207 353 4200 Tulchan Communications This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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