Greene King says retail sales up, bad weather weighs

Suffolk-based Greene King said sales from outlets open more than a year in its largest unit, Retail, rose 3.9 per cent in the 38 weeks to January 23. Like-for-like food sales jumped 8.2 per cent, lifted by sales at its pub restaurant brand Hungry Horse.

Greene King, whose other chains include Old English Inns and Loch Fyne Restaurants, has focussed on value and higher margin food sales since 2008 helping it outperform competitors who have struggled in torrid trading conditions.

As a result, full-year margins at its retail business will to be slightly ahead of last year, the company said, but echoed its peers in noting caution on the outlook.

"The short-term outlook for the consumer is unclear, but we are confident we will... meet our expectations for the financial year" it added. Greene King said volumes were down 3.3 per cent in own-brewed ale volumes.

It repeated its plans to invest 25 million pounds in its recently acquired Cloverleaf chain of restaurants.