JD Wetherspoon has reported that for the 10 weeks to 7 July 2019 like-for-like sales increased by 6.9% and total sales increased by 6.6%. Year-to-date like-for-like sales have increased by 6.7% and total sales increased by 7.4%.
Since the start of the financial year, Wetherspoons has opened five new pubs and disposed of nine. No further openings are expected in the current financial year.
At this stage, about £3m of exceptional, non-cash losses are expected in this financial year, mainly a result of pub disposals which were below the value in its balance sheet.
In the current financial year to date, the firm has spent £71m on buying the freeholds of pubs of which it was previously the tenant and has bought back £5.4m of the company’s shares.
The group remains in a sound financial position. Net debt at the end of this financial year is expected to be about £745m.
Chairman Tim Martin said, “The main issue for shareholders, which dominates debate, relates to the nature of the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU.
“The dichotomy between a ‘no-deal’ Brexit and a ‘deal’, as it is often portrayed in the media, politics and business, is highly misleading. The term no-deal really means ‘multi-deal’ – a multitude of deals agreed between individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations.
'In contrast the term ‘deal’ refers to a ‘mono-deal’ – a single overarching agreement, which aims to govern the entire relationship between the UK and the EU.
“In reality, a multi-deal Brexit (ie no-deal) is already proceeding at pace. Jean Marc Puissesseau, the boss of the port of Calais, has said “there will not be any delay” in Calais (appendix 1). Ryanair has said that fears about planes not flying post-Brexit “is no longer a risk” (appendix 2). British Airways agrees.
Martin continued, “Wetherspoon, for example, has made arrangements to replace French champagne and brandy, and German beer, with alternatives from the UK, Australia and America. In addition, most spirits and beer exports to the EU from non-EU countries are not subject to tariffs, in any event.
“Initial fears about huge post-referendum job losses in the City of London have proved to be wide of the mark, as legal and practical arrangements have been made, as indicated in the article by Reuters (appendix 3) below.
“These sorts of deals and arrangements are the tip of a giant iceberg of similar transactions, across the trading spectrum, negotiated and facilitated by individuals, businesses and civil servants – the negative undertone of no-deal is an illusion.'
Martin expanded, “The real issue for the UK relates to the desirability of an overarching mono-deal, governing all aspects of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, as envisaged in Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement.
“The multi-deal approach, which immediately allows the UK to trade freely with the rest of the world, is a better alternative. As the House of Lords said in March 2017, there is then no legal liability to make any payments to the EU.
“It enables the UK to regain control of fishing and to eliminate tariffs on thousands of non-EU imports, such as bananas, rice, wine and children’s clothes – many of which are not produced in the UK.
“Democratic accountability will also be improved – the most important determinant of economic success.'
Martin concluded, “A complex and overarching mono-deal, agreed under duress, is unnecessary and counterproductive. It would reduce the flexibility of UK businesses and Parliament in the future. The multi-deal approach is simpler, safer and will yield immediate dividends.
“As regards Wetherspoon, the Company’s expectation for our annual results is unchanged for the current financial year.”