Greene King buys eight Punch pubs and reports good growth

Greene King has bought eight pubs from Punch Taverns for £15.9m, as it reported 'relatively strong' growth in the 38 weeks to 24 January 2010.

In a trading update this morning, the company said that like-for-like sales in its managed pubs division were up by 4.3%, although they rose by 5% for the first 35 weeks until the freezing winter hit.

It added that it had seen 'very strong' growth in the two weeks ahead of Christmas. Meanwhile, like-for-like food sales also grew strongly and combined with growth in food-related drinks sales.

But Greene King said it expected like-for-like sales to 'moderate' through the rest of the financial year due to tough comparatives with the previous year and the rise in VAT.

The firm's Pub Partners business, its tenanted and leased division, saw average profit (EBITDA) fall by 4.9% up to week 36, but a 0.8% fall in the second half of the year, since 18 October, revealed an 'improving profit trend'.

It added that the 'health' of licensees appeared to be improving, with new applications up 20% in December on the same month last year.

And Greene King's brewing arm saw volume increase 7.2% over the 38-week period although once again, volume growth was expected to 'moderate' in the second half of this financial year.

Hotels, restaurants and pubs lose around one-third of their peak values >>

Greene King launches iPhone app for cask ale lovers >>

David Elliott to retire as MD of Greene King's tenanted arm >>


By Neil Gerrard

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