(Reuters) -Britain's J D Wetherspoon (LON:JDW) on Wednesday forecast its profit to be towards the upper-end of market expectations after the pub group posted higher third-quarter sales, buoyed by strong demand for its traditional ales and vodka.
The group, which owns and operates pubs across the UK and Ireland, reported a 5.2% rise in like-for-like sales for the 13-week period ended April 28.
Resilient customer spending has helped British pub groups during an uncertain economic environment, even as fears of customers cutting back amid a high inflationary environment looms.
Sales of traditional ales, which were slow in the aftermath of pandemic-led lockdowns, have witnessed strong momentum, the company said, adding that customers were also lapping up Guinness beer.
The younger customers spent on vodkas such as Swansea's Au Vodka and XIX flavoured vodkas.