Mitchells and Butlers reports 0.4% sales increase as food businesses take a hit

Pub, bar and restaurant operator Mitchells and Butlers has reported a like-for-like total sales increase of 0.4% in its year-to-date financial results, as its food-led businesses experienced a poor performance.

Like-for-like sales for the 11-week period grew by 0.9% with the group saying it had “very strong performances” in its wet-led businesses which were boosted by the World Cup and the warmer weather. However, the group said its food companies experienced “challenging conditions” during the period.

Phil Urban, chief executive, said: “Sales performance since the half year was impacted by England’s prolonged success in the World Cup and the sustained hot weather. Trading was polarised across the company, with the wet-led part of the business delivering very strong growth, but some of the more food-led formats, particularly the carvery businesses, were negatively impacted.

“However, we have been encouraged to see sales recover now that the World Cup has finished and as we continue on our longer-term journey. We remain confident of delivering a full year performance in line with the board’s expectations.”

He added: “The second wave of transformation activity is beginning to bear fruit and momentum behind this programme of work continues to grow.”