PUBS group JD Wetherspoon lifted sales again – but warned about the impact of rising cost pressures and a squeeze on customer spending power.
Like-for-like sales rose by 2.4% in the 13 weeks to April 24, leading to a 2.4% increase over the 39 weeks to the same date.
In a brief trading update, the company said it “continues to be faced with rising costs for a wide range of goods and services” combined with a drop in disposable income for its customers.
Wetherspoon, which has two pubs in Huddersfield and 800 outlets UK-wide, is being buffeted by increased taxes, labour costs and rising prices relating to utility bills and bar and food supplies.
But the company said it continues to expand, opening 29 new pubs since the start of the financial year. It aims to open 50 in the current financial year.
Wetherspoon said it remains confident after an “encouraging” performance from its new pubs.
