Enterprise Inns sees sales lift
PUB group Enterprise Inns reported improving sales after many of its struggling licensees saw a long-awaited upturn in business.
The UK’s second largest pub company said average net income per pub declined by 4 per cent in the 16 weeks to 16 January – compared to 8 per cent in the last financial year.
Shares in the company jumped by 11 per cent after the upbeat announcement.
The company said the festive period had highlighted the “key role that the pub plays at the heart of many communities.”
While the UK’s “big freeze” hit sales at some pubs, Enterprise said it “brought welcome extra custom to others”.
Enterprise said efforts to offload loss-making pubs and invest in better performers was helping to boost figures at the firm’s 7,400-strong estate.
The company has offloaded many of its underperforming pubs, selling 103 sites for £32m during the 16 weeks.
The company said in a statement: “Strong cash generation from the business plus the benefit of sensible asset disposals have continued to drive our programme to reduce the level of borrowings under our bank facility.
“Trading conditions will be challenging throughout the year as pubs and consumers alike face the prospect of rising taxes and higher unemployment.
“However, as we continue to improve the quality of our estate both through investment and the disposal of unsustainable pubs, we remain confident in our strategy and believe that we are well positioned to drive the business forward through these difficult times.”