Town & City Christmas sales up 8%
Town & City Pub Company, owner of Yates's and Litten Tree, says it is starting 2010 'with optimism' after seeing Christmas sales leap 8.1 per cent on the same period the previous year.
Despite heavy snowfall over the key Christmas party season, the company said trade had been strong with Christmas bookings up 60 per cent in 2009.
Town & City chief executive Toby Smith said: “Like most pub companies we entered 2009 on a cautious note, as the recession was beginning to take bite. But despite tough competition we concentrated on doing what we do best – competitive marketing with real and worthwhile customer deals, delivering excellent customer service and an all round great experience for our customers in our bars. We ended our big birthday anniversary year positively achieving good Christmas sales and look to 2010 with renewed enthusiasm and confidence."
The pub company, which celebrated the 125th anniversary of Yates's last year, also experienced a 479 per cent rise in breakfast sales in 2009. Food sales overall have risen 22 per cent since the company emerged from the pre-pack administration of Laurel Pub Company in early 2008 with £1.99 meal deals proving popular.
Drinks sales across the group were also strong with 22.6m pints of lager, bitter and cider and 1.3m bottles of Echo Falls wine sold during the year.
The group said it had increased the number of cask marque accredited pubs from 13 to 43 since July last year and was on track to meet its target of 50 by February this year.
