Mitchells & Butlers PLC (LSE:MAB) said wet weather and an early Easter slowed sales in its latest quarter, but it was still "very confident" it would hit full-year forecasts.
The pub chain reported a 3.4% increase in sales for the thirteen weeks ending July 20, bringing the total growth for the 42 weeks of this financial year so far to 5.7%.
Stripping out the Easter impact, like-for-like sales growth in both years was 4.2%.
Euro 2024 will have helped this latest quarter, though M&B said its sales growth was ahead of the sector overall.
Phil Urban, chief executive, added: “As inflationary pressures have eased the level of price increase we have taken has reduced.
“The combination of easing inflationary costs and continued sales growth will ultimately benefit our profit levels for the year.”
M&B expects costs to rise to £55 million this year with lower energy costs offset by rises in the National Living Wage.
Shares were flat at 299p on Thursday.