Pre-close Statement
Current Trading
For the first 10 weeks of the second quarter (to 3 January 2010), like for like sales increased by 1.2%, compared to 0.3% growth in the first quarter (to 25 October 2009). Total sales for the same period increased by 5.3%, compared to 4.5% in the first quarter. In the first 12 weeks of the second quarter (to 17 January 2010), like for like sales decreased by 0.3%, and total sales increased by 3.7%, with the last two weeks being affected by adverse weather conditions. In the year to date (25 weeks to 17 January 2009), like for like sales increased by 0.1% and total Company sales, including recently opened pubs, increased by 4.1%.
We expect operating margins for the half year ending 24 January 2010 to be in line with the same period last year, with the benefit from lower energy costs being off-set by a higher level of repairs expenditure.