6.9 million meals at Mitchells & Butlers
Mitchells & Butlers, the Birmingham-based pub and restaurant chain, was celebrating a strong festive trading period today, revealing it sold 6.9 million meals over the three week Christmas period - up 2.6% on the previous year.
Like-for-like food sales, stripping out new openings, were up 1.3%. The company said: "Trading on Christmas Day was particularly strong, with with like-for-like sales growth of 7.5% and 193,000 meals sold."
Sales in the financial year so far are now up 2%, boosted by the strong festive trading and milder weather compared to last year.
The owner of Toby Carvery, O'Neills, Harvester and Miller & Carter employs around 18,000 people at 1,600 pubs and restaurants around the UK and said it had opened 10 new sites as it accerated investment into expanding selected brands.
Chief executive Alistair Darby said: "We have delivered a strong trading performance over our busiest time of the year, with good sales growth. I was delighted that almost 200,000 people shared their Christmas Day with us and would like to thank the 18,000 staff who worked with such enthusiasm to provide them with a great experience.
"We are reducing staff turnover, modernising our systems, increasing guest satisfaction and delivering against our transformation plan to create sustainable value for shareholders."
