Fuller's weathers cold snap

Fullers: 'Riding out recession'

'Record' December sales for London brewer

Near arctic conditions in the UK were not enough to dampen the performance of London’s Fuller’s Beer Co, which turned in record sales during December.

The Chiswick  brewer saw a 1% like-for-like sales increase in the 18 weeks ending January 30th and over the 44 weeks the firm sold 2% more beer than in the same period in 2008.

The managed pubs and hotels of parent company Fuller Smith and Turner saw sales increase by 2.8% over the 44 weeks. But the firm’s tenanted inns division suffered a 2% dip in profits over the period.

In an interim management statement the firm said its managed pubs and hotels enjoyed record sales during December but added, “The severe weather in January has taken the gloss of these sales”.

The statement concluded: We remain cautious about the UK economic outlook and the prospects for our customers for 2010 and beyond. With inflation set to increase and tax rises and spending cuts inevitable after the general election, we will have to compete even harder for our customers’ business.

“This caution aside, we have ridden out this recession well and look set to exceed our previous expectations for our financial performance for the year to March 27th, 2010.”