Greene King reports strong sales

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.

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