Mitchells and Butlers endures tough August
Pub and restaurant firm Mitchells and Butlers has struggled with a difficult August, with like-for-like sales up by just 0.1% in the nine weeks to 20 September 2014.
Food sales over the period were up 0.1% but drinks sales were down 0.2%.
Total sales growth for the 51 weeks was 3.8%, with like-for-like sales up 0.6% said the company in a pre-close trading update.
It blamed the sluggish August performance on caution among consumers about spending, and higher rainfall than last year. However there was an improvement in demand in July following the World Cup.
On 15 June, Mitchells and Butlers acquired 173 outlets from the Orchid Group and that company's results are included within total sales for the fourteen weeks following that date.
Mitchells and Butlers said Orchid continued to trade well and was on track to convert the first few sites to its brands prior to Christmas this year. I
It has also opened 22 new sites and converted or expanded nine sites this financial year.
Alistair Darby, chief executive, said: "Despite a difficult trading period in the last quarter, the transformation of our business is well on track. Coupled with the successful integration of the Orchid estate, this gives us confidence in our future growth prospects."
