Marston's food sales drive growth despite affect of summer flooding

Brewer and pub operator Marston's has reaped the benefits of strong food sales at its managed division over the past year.

But the company also felt the pain of the poor summer weather and summer flooding temporarily closed 150 of its pubs affecting trade over May, June and July.

Five of those pubs remain closed.

Marston's Inns and Taverns, comprising 550 managed pubs, saw like-for-like sales in the year ending 29 September grow 4.6%, despite the flooding and the boost to last year's trading supplied by the football World Cup.

Food sales in its managed division now contribute more than a third (34%) of total sales and increased 13.3% like-for-like in the period. Wet sales grew just 0.6% in comparison.

Marston's tenanted and leased estate of 1,722 pubs boosted average profit per pub 13%.

In May Marston's disposed of 279 pubs to AAIM Group.

The company also trumpeted the performance of their cask ale, which includes Marston's Pedigree, which have a 20% share of the premium cask ale market.

Marston's buys Rutland Pubs >>

Hospitality counts costs of flooding >>

AAIM set for push in UK pub market >>

By Christopher Walton

E-mail your comments to Christopher Walton here.