Roadchef, the motorway service station operator, has reported a 59.9% in operating profit from £3.44m to £5.51m for the 12 weeks to 17 December 2006 compared to the same period last year.
Ebitda climbed 38.6% to £7.8m from £5.7m over the same period.
For the rolling 52 weeks to 17 December, operating profit increased by 6.5% from £18.35m to £19.55m, while ebitda increased by 6.4% to £29.6m from £27.8m compared to the previous year.
The company said that a settlement had been reached with the government in respect of the compulsory purchase order claim for part of its Maidstone site, which generated a profit of £1.8m during the quarter.
The company, which has 30 sites over 20 Motorway Service Areas, has seen sales at the Costa coffee units, which it operators under a franchise deal with Whitbread, rise by 5.6% year on year.
During its first quarter, sales in Costa coffee increased by £500,000, up 15.2% on the previous year.
Catering sales, helped by the performance of Costa, grew by £500,000m over the 12 weeks, up 5.5% year on year.
Sales from the company’s 11 lodges operating under the Premier Travel Inn brand were £1.2m, up 3.3% on the previous year.
Occupancies for the quarter were 65.9%, down from 67.4% in 2005, however, this was offset by an increase in achieved room rate of £2.56 to £44.68.
The company said that the business “continues to trade broadly in line with last year” and a number of initiatives aimed at increasing profitability and enhancing management control are being processed.
Delek, the Israeli real estate investor, is currently in talks with Nikko Capital Investors, the owners of RoadChef, to acquire the motorway services business in a deal worth £450m, according to reports.
Delek is believed to be willing to pay around £400m for the equity of the motorway services business and to pay off £50m in debt.
Earlier this year, Nikko announced it would consider selling the 20-outlet chain.
