Third quarter trading proves encouraging for Whitbread

15th December 2009, 1:37pm

Whitbread has said its third quarter trading period, the 39 weeks ending 26th November 2009, has been successful with total sales up 6.7% and like-for-like sales up 0.3%.

Alan Parker, chief executive officer of Whitbread PLC said: "Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants have again outperformed the market in some of the toughest trading conditions for years and Costa's sales are outstanding. The positive momentum in sales and our rigorous cost control lead us to expect that our 2009/10 results will somewhat exceed the top end of market estimates."

At Premier Inn, the decline in like-for-like sales has halved in the last three months and the statement said that Whitbread's commercial action plan is delivering. "New Business Account customers are up 12% compared to last year with many large national companies choosing to switch to Premier Inn in their search for value," said the statement.

Pub restaurants achieved a robust performance with total year to date sales up by 6.0% and like-for-like sales up by 2.0%. Value for money brands such as Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns have increased covers by 6.2% year to date.

Costa had a particularly strong performance in the third quarter with like-for-like sales up 6.7%, more than double the increase in the first half. Sales in UK and overseas franchise units were £141.8m, up 28.2%. In the year to date, Costa has opened a net 154 stores in the UK and 22 internationally.

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• 12 Jan 2010 - Whitbread to launch first low-carbon restaurant

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