J D Wetherspoon plc Announces Sales Results for the 10 Weeks and 49 Weeks Period Ended July 6, 2014; Provides Earnings Guidance for the Full Year of 2014 and 2015
In the year to date (49 weeks to 6 July 2014), like-for-like sales increased by 5.4%, and total sales increased by 9.8%. Sales have been slightly weaker during the World Cup.
The operating margin, in the 10 weeks to 6 July 2014, was 8.1%, in line with 8.1% year-to-date (49 weeks to 6 July 2014) - and the full year is now expected to be around this level.
In the next financial year, the company expects the operating margin to be in the region of 7.7% to 8.1%, subject to the level of like-for-like sales, the number of new openings and cost pressures.