Marston’s cheered by ‘year of good growth’

WOLVERHAMPTON-BASED pubco and brewer Marston’s has raised a glass to a strong performance that saw underlying revenues and pre-tax profits rise by 7%.

It generated £98.0m profits on sales of £905.8m in the year to October 1. It opened 22 pubs and bars in the period, creating 1,000 jobs, and its brewing division increased volumes by 13%.

The group employs 14,000 people across its estate of 1,559 pubs, and it produces a range of brands that includes Pedigree, Wainwright, Banks’s and Jennings.

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay said: “We have delivered another year of good growth across the business, with the outstanding performance of our beer company particularly encouraging.  

“We have a high quality pub and beer business which is displaying positive momentum and is consistently outperforming the market.  We believe that, despite some continuing market headwinds, our expansion plans for new pub-restaurants, lodges and Revere bars will further enhance our ability to deliver attractive returns.”

Mr Findlay added that the first few weeks of the current financial year have maintained the momentum.