Christmas cheer for SFI

The SFI Group, owner of the Litten Tree pub chain, saw a sales boost of more than 60% for the last six weeks of 1999.

Total net sales in the six weeks ending 31 December were £3.2m higher than during the same period in the previous year, the company said. This amounted to an increase of 60.5%.

The growth was mainly the result of 10 new "superpubs" that opened over the six weeks. They contributed a total of 43 extra trading weeks with average weekly net sales of £24,721.

The six Latin-themed bar-restaurants bought from Capital Radio in July had average weekly net sales of £29,922. Like-for-like sales growth at established Bar Med and Litten Tree outlets was 1.6%.

Takings on Millennium Eve exceeded expectations at more than £500,000, the highest gross sales in a single day since the company was founded. Two-thirds of SFI's outlets opened on the night, catering for some 10,000 customers, who spent an average of £50 each.

But there were wide variations in trading on Millennium Eve. The new Bar Med in Reading, Berkshire, took £30,000 on the night, while other outlets, especially those near major national events, were "disappointing".

Most successful were the Litten Tree and Bar Med outlets in town centres.

Pre-Christmas party business, particularly in London, was higher than in previous years, SFI said.