Wetherspoon: Sales positive since ban
JD Wetherspoon pubs in England have seen positive like-for-like sales since the start of the smoke ban on 1 July.
Chief executive John Hutson said increased food sales are driving sales growth as occurred in Scotland and Wales.
There's been a few customers lighting up but nothing malicious. It's been old habits really - there's been no aggravationJDW chief executive John Hutson.
He said: "Staff have gone into the start of the smoke ban with a very positive attitude and we've had no negative reaction from customers.
"As far as we can we've prepared everyone and it's not been a big jolt to the system.
"There's been a few customers lighting up but nothing malicious. It's been old habits really - there's been no aggravation."
For the first 11 weeks of the fourth quarter to 15 July 2007 like-for-like sales increased by 4.9%. In the 50 weeks to 15 July 2007 like-for-like sales increased by 5.8%, with overall company sales up by 6.9%.
The company added that it thought the smoke ban had resulted in pubs becoming more attractive to the majority of customers.
JD Wetherspoon reported the opening of 15 new pubs and the disposal of three in the current financial year.
Another three pubs will open in the remainder of this financial year and there are 10 pubs already on site for opening in the new financial year. The financial year to July 2008 is expected to see the opening of about 30 new pubs, with the majority likely to open in the first half of the year.
