Petrol station analysis boosts Brulines

Brulines' recent move into the petrol station forecourt sector has helped the group post a near 25 per cent hike in first half turnover.

Best known for its controversial beer follow monitoring technology, the group said turnover for the six months to October 1, 2010, rose 24 per cent to £12.3m, while pre-tax profits came in at £1.95m, up nearly three per cent.

Brulines' chairman James Newman said the group's decision to diversify and bolster its fuel services division was progressing well with a number of acquisitions helping to expand its offer in the sector.

And despite being embroiled in controversy over the accuracy of its beer flow kit, Newman said the take-up of its i-draught technology was encouraging.

"Several large national pub companies are currently trialling it, both in the tenanted and managed arenas," he added.

Around 80 per cent of Brulines' revenue is derived from its pub activities, Newman said, and following nearly 600 i-draught installations in the first half there would be more roll-outs in the second six months of the financial year, "although this could be offset by further pub disposals that certain of the pub companies are evaluating, as is well documented", he added.

Against a tough economic backdrop Newman also said the group took some comfort from the Office of Fair Trading's recent announcement that the beer tie was not anti-competitive.

Brulines' earnings per share rose 2.7 per cent to 4.98p, while the group said it would increase its interim dividend by 2.5 per cent to 1.67p.