World cup and sunshine give Marston’s a lift
SUNSHINE and the World Cup weather boosted beer sales for brewer Marston’s.
The company said yesterday it remained on track to meet its expectations for the year.
Sales at its managed pubs open for more than a year were up 1.7 per cent on the prior year in the 43 weeks to 31 July, including a 2.7 per cent increase in the 11 weeks to 31 July. Underlying profit at its tenanted pubs fell by four per cent in the same period.
Tenanted pubs, which are owned by pub companies but run by publicans, have fared less well than managed pubs through the recession as they have tended to have less flexibility on pricing and promotions.
Britain’s pubs have battled with a torrid trading environment over the past two years as a combination of a smoking ban, recession, above-inflation increases in beer duties and cheap booze offers in supermarkets have all taken their toll.