JDW shares favoured drinks in Q3 update

As sales continue to recover from a huge dent caused by Covid-19, the pub operator J D Wetherspoon (JDW) has shared which drinks are fuelling that increase in its latest quarterly update.

For the 13-week period to 28 April 2024, like-for-like sales across the JDW estate increased by 5.2%, compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date like-for-like sales increased by 8.3%, while total sales increased by 3.3% in the quarter and by 6.5% year-to-date.

"Sales in the period continued the steady recovery from the pandemic," says J D Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin (pictured). "Traditional ales, which were very slow in the aftermath of the lockdowns, are increasing momentum, with Abbot Ale, Ruddles Bitter and Doom Bar showing good growth, as indeed are ales from the many small and micro brewers with which we trade.

"The gods of fashion have smiled upon Guinness, previously consumed by blokes my age, but now widely adopted by younger generations. Also selling well among younger generations are Au Vodka from Swansea and XIX flavoured vodkas, the latter promoted by the hugely popular Sidemen.

Martin says that wine has been on the comeback trail, with Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand, popular among Wetherspoon representatives of the "chattering classes".

Property update

In the year-to-date, JDW has opened two pubs and sold or surrendered to the landlord 18 pubs. Most of the pubs were smaller and older, or where the company has a second pub in reasonably close proximity. There was a net cash inflow of £6.8m from the 18 disposals. A total of 17 trading pubs remain on the market or are under offer. JDW currently has a trading estate of 809 sites.

It expects profits in the current financial year to be towards the top of market expectations.

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