JD Wetherspoon plc has published its trading update announcement for the 14 weeks to 6 November 2022, comprising Q1 and a further week.
Current trading like-for-like sales in the first 14 weeks of the financial year were 9.6% higher than the same period last year and 0.4% higher than the 14 weeks ending 3 November 2019. Costs, especially in respect of labour, food and repairs, were substantially higher.
Trading has been broadly in line with expectations, although October has been a slightly slower month. For the first 9 weeks of the financial year, sales were 1.5% above the same period in calendar-year 2019.
For the last 5 weeks, sales were 1.1% lower than the same period in 2019. In comparison with 2021, sales were +10.1% for the first 9 weeks and were +8.9% for the last 5 weeks.
Financing
The company has terminated most of its interest rate swaps, receiving £169.4m, after costs.
The mark-to-market value of the interest rate swaps increased by approximately £120m from the end of the last financial year (31 July 2022) to mid-October. The company decided to realise the value of the swaps, as part of its plans to reduce debt over the next few financial years.
As at 6 November 2022, the company’s net debt was £745m (£892m at 31 July 2022). The company has since fixed interest rates in respect of £400 million of borrowings for three years to 31 October 2025 at 4.67%, excluding the banks’ margin. Interest costs for FY23 are expected to be approximately £10 million higher, following the transactions noted above.
Property
The company has opened one pub during the period and sold five pubs. The sale of the five pubs gave rise to a cash inflow of £1.9 million. In addition, the lease of a pub at Doncaster airport came to an end and reverted to the landlord.
The company currently has a trading estate of 847 pubs. As previously indicated, the company has recently put 32 pubs on the market and intends to add a further 7 pubs to the disposal list this week. Most of the pubs are in close proximity to existing Wetherspoon pubs.
Outlook
Chairman Tim Martin (pictured) said, “Sales have improved since the ending of restrictions in the early part of this calendar year and are considerably above the same period in the last financial year.
“The company reported a return to positive cash flow in FY22 and anticipates a positive cash flow in the current year.
“In my comments on the full year results released on 7 October 2022, I set out various threats to the hospitality industry and these continue to apply. Those caveats aside, in the absence of further lockdowns or restrictions, the company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects.”