
Brewer and pub operator Greene King has reported strong sales and robust margins across its three trading divisions in the 12 weeks to 24 July.
Like-for-like sales have grown by 1.2% at its 820-strong managed pub division Pub Company. Excluding the impact of the football competition Euro 2004, sales were up by 2.6%.
Pub Partners, its portfolio of 1,244 leased and tenanted pubs, boosted like-for-like sales by 3.6% while turnover at the Brewing Company was 6% ahead.
The group said that the integration of the 73 Ridley’s pubs it bought in July for £45.6m was “progressing well”. Greene King has closed the Ridley’s brewery near Chelmsford in Essex.
Greene King hopes to be able to seal its £187m offer for the Belhaven Group’s estate of 270 managed and tenanted pubs in Scotland by mid-September.
Buy this week's Caterer magazine for more industry news and analysis