Like-for-like sales at pub company Fuller’s for the 41 weeks to 11th January were up 5.9%, “maintaining market outperformance and continuing the company’s strong momentum”.
The Queens Head, in Chesham, part of the Fuller’s tenanted estate
These figures include excellent trading over the important five-week Christmas and New Year period, said the company. This delivered like-for-like sales growth of 10.2%.
“As we move into the last few months of this financial year, we continue to focus on delivering long-term returns as well as preparing for the year ahead,” said Fullers’ chief executive Simon Emeny.
“Our share buyback programme is ongoing, with 5.7 million of the planned 6.5m ‘A’ shares now repurchased. We also continue to invest in our estate, with a number of major projects planned for the final quarter of the current financial year, including a £4m investment at The Chamberlain Hotel, in the City of London, which is already under way.
“We are confident of meeting market expectations for the full year. While we will be facing fresh cost challenges in the new financial year – with increases in employers’ National Insurance contributions, national living wage and business rates – we are taking appropriate actions to manage the impact of these market challenges and remain confident and optimistic about the future for our business.”
