JD Wetherspoon has reported a 2.9% rise in like-for-like sales in the 11 weeks to 12 July and a 3.4% increase in the year to date (50 weeks to 12 July).
Total sales grew 6.5% and 3.4% respectively with operating margin for Q4 at was 7%, compared with 8.3% in the same period last year. Wetherspoon’s said the full-year operating margin is expected to be around 7.4% and full-year profit before tax unlikely to be higher than last year.
In his comment on the pre-close statement chairman Tim Martin said the Government’s announcement last week that a national living wage would be introduced “adds considerable uncertainty to future financial projections in the pub industry”.
JDW has opened 26 new pubs and disposed of six since the start of the financial year. It said it has nine pubs under development and, in line with the last update, intends to open around 30 pubs in the current financial year. It plans to open 20 to 30 pubs in the next financial year. It recently the intention to sell 20 pubs which “no longer fit our requirements”.
The company has bought back 1,621,163 shares throughout the financial year, at a total cost of £12.5m.
Martin said: “The recent government announcement regarding the “living wage” adds considerable uncertainty to future financial projections in the pub industry. The average price of a pint in a supermarket is less than £1 and we estimate staff costs to be around 10% or 10 pence. In contrast, a pint in a pub costs around £3 and staff costs are about 25% or 75 pence. Increased labour costs therefore affect pubs with far greater force than supermarkets.
“This disadvantage is compounded by a huge VAT and business rates disparity between pubs and supermarkets, which is putting unsustainable pressure on many pubs in our industry, especially in smaller towns and less-affluent areas.
“Pubs contribute around 40% of sales as taxes of one kind or another and are important generators of jobs. Capricious initiatives by the government, widening the financial disparity between pubs and supermarkets, will threaten the future of many more pubs
“Wetherspoon is conscious of the need to attract and retain excellent staff. In addition to a 5% minimum starting-pay increase announced last October, we agreed an 8% increase for the 3 August this year, before the government introduced its latest plans. We also pay approximately one third of profits to staff in bonuses and free shares and 80% of this is paid to staff who work in our pubs.
“Furthermore, we estimate that each of our pubs generates taxes of approximately £650,000 per annum, around 10 times our net profits per pub. We strongly urge the government to harmonise VAT and business rates for pubs and supermarkets and to end the current tax inequalities. ”
On the outlook, the company said: “At this early stage, a number of factors likely to influence our trading performance next year are difficult to quantify. Positive aspects include an increase in pub numbers, a better economy and slightly lower interest rates. Less favourable aspects include heightened competition from supermarkets and restaurant groups, and increased staff, repairs, bar and food costs.
“We currently anticipate a trading performance similar to, or slightly above, the current year, with an increased second half weighting, and will provide updates in our regular statements in the course of the next 12 months.”
