Weather-beaten Marston’s predicts a second half upturn

WOLVERHAMPTON pub company Marston’s says snow and exceptionally cold weather in the three months to the end of March has affected its trading.

The firm said it expects to report operating profit for the first half slightly below that of last year.

However, its expectations for the overall trading performance for the full year remain unchanged.

Marston’s says that as part of an operational restructuring and an on-going focus on minimising costs, it expects to reduce operating costs by around £3m per year, with about half of this amount benefitting the results for the second half of this year.

“Trading has started well in the second half and we expect to benefit from less challenging sales comparatives for the remainder of the financial year,” it said.

“We have opened nine new pub restaurants in the financial year to date and anticipate opening at least 20 by the end of the year which, combined with the rollover benefit of the back-ended 2012 programme, will generate additional profit in the second half.”