Star Pubs & Bars has seen a “soft” start to 2018 as poor weather hit sales, but saw trade pick up over Easter, managing director Lawson Mountstevens has told MCA.
It comes on the back of results for parent company, Heineken, which saw total UK volumes fall in mid-single digits in the first quarter.
Globally, the group said beer volumes rose 4.3% compared to the same period last year.
On a regional basis, western Europe was the hardest hit, with volumes down 1.7%. Heineken said cold weather more than offset the impact of an early Easter.
On trading for Star, Mountstevens said: “It has been a bit of a mixed picture this year. January and February were ok but March was very difficult. Easter was a bit of a respite but it’s not been easy.
“We are hoping that the good weather this week and the World Cup in the summer will help to make up for that. What it shows is that sales are ultimately driven by events and weather is an event.”
Heineken chief executive Jean-François van Boxmeer said: “Performance in the first quarter was in line with expectations, with volume growth benefiting from an earlier timing of Easter this year and a slow start last year. The Heineken brand grew by 8.1% and we saw continued growth momentum in key markets around the world. In Europe, volumes were negatively impacted by cold weather across the region. Our full year guidance remains unchanged.”
