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Young & Co’s Brewery PLC on Thursday said strong trading over the summer, including its ‘biggest ever’ Wimbledon fortnight helped drive sales and profit higher in the first half of the financial year. The London-based pub chain said pretax profit rose 21% to £30.6 million in the 26 weeks to September 29 from £25.3 million the year prior, with basic earnings per share of 34.95 pence, up 8.5% from 32.21p. Profit growth was driven by top line performance, despite continued pressures from national living wage increases, national insurance and food inflation. ‘Record trading in our estate over the summer, our biggest ever Wimbledon fortnight and the full benefit of City Pub Group integration synergies helped to offset the impact of these pressures,’ said Chief Executive Simon Dodd. Revenue increased 5.4% to a record £263.6 million from £250.0 million, with 5.7% like-for-like growth, boosted by the ‘excellent’ weather during late spring and early summer. Young’s said healthy cash generation, working capital timing and a second half weighted investment plan has helped reduced debt since the full year-end by £26.5 million to £221.8 million, with net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation at 2.0 times, and in line with the firm’s capital allocation framework. CEO Dodd said the second half has ‘started well, but we remain mindful of ongoing economic uncertainty and its potential impact on consumer sentiment, and we will continue to monitor trading conditions closely.’ The dividend was lifted 6.0% to 12.22p per share from 11.53p. Shares in the pub firm were unchanged at 786.00p each in London on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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