Wetherspoon reports food sales growth

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has pumped £300,000 into improving its food over the past six months and has seen like-for-like food sales shoot up by 23% in a year.

The 212-strong group has brought in food guru Egon Ronay to improve quality and consistency, in a move that has already seen an increase in training and pay for kitchen staff.

This growth could reflect the increasing presence outside London, said managing director John Hutson, as provincial pubs tended to sell more food. Food sales now make up 20% of turnover, against 16% six months ago.

Wetherspoon last week reported pre-tax profits up 20% to £9.7m, before property profits of £1.4m. Turnover rose 37% to £89m. Operating profit margins fell back by one percentage point to 21.2% due to higher investment levels.