Fuller Smith and Turner saw adjusted profit before tax rise 5% to £42.9m in the 53 weeks to April 1, the company has reported.
There was a strong performance from the firm’s managed pubs, with like-for-like sales growth of 3.7%, driven by good growth in food and accommodation.
Tenanted inns’ like-for-like profits were marginally down by 1%, although earning before deductions per pub were up 2%.
Total beer and cider volumes were down 2%, but operating profits in The Fuller’s Beer Company rose 5%.
During the year, Fuller’s invested £22 million in its existing inns estate, added five new pubs and an additional 71 new bedrooms.
It opened four new restaurants for The Stable and acquired a further 25% share of the company, taking ownership to 76%.
Fuller’s grew sales of its craft beer range and launched London Pride Unfiltered. It added further warehousing and capacity at Cornish Orchards and Nectar, and filled 66% of vacancies with internal promotions.
In the first nine weeks of the new financial year, managed pubs and hotels’ like-for-like sales were up by 6.6% and tenanted inns’ like-for-like profits up by 5%. Total beer and cider volumes were up 7%.
Targeted investments
Fuller’s chief executive, Simon Emeny, said: “It has been another good year for Fuller’s with a strong set of results for the company. Food and accommodation have driven like-for-like sales growth in our managed pubs and hotels, and the targeted investments we have made in both new sites and redeveloping our existing estate have generated excellent returns. We have purchased five new sites and completed 25 major refurbishments in the last 53 weeks.
“We are only nine weeks into the new financial year, but we have had a very strong start, albeit against our softest quarter last year, with like-for-like sales in our managed pubs and hotels up 6.6%, like-for-like profits in our tenanted inns up 5% and volumes in The Fuller’s Beer Company rising 7%.
“There are a number of headwinds that will have a significant financial impact on both Fuller’s and the industry as a whole, but we face the future in a strong position. Our managed pubs and hotels are in good shape and although there is a lot of work and a long way to go, we have a clear vision and solid strategy for both our tenanted inns and The Fuller’s Beer Company.
“In short, while we are cautious and realistic about the future, we are well placed to continue to delight our customers, recruit and develop the best team members and reward our shareholders.”
