Young & Co (AIM:YNGA) rose 4% as it became the latest pub chain to report bumper trading over the Christmas period.
Trading went ‘exceptionally well”, it said, with sales in the five weeks to 13 January up by 11.6% on a like-for-like basis.
Youngs added it saw double-digit increases over the previous year on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
For the 15 weeks ending 13 January 2025, total sales including the City Pub acquisition rose by 26.1% and by 7.9% on a like-for-like basis, making 5.5% growth year to date.
Simon Dodd, chief executive, added; “We continued to break sales records across the period, delivering some of the highest daily sales in Young's history.
“Our recent pub investments performed exceptionally well across the period."
"Looking ahead, whilst we remain mindful of the headwinds facing consumers and the wider issues that our industry will encounter from the increase in both National Insurance contributions and National Living Wage, our business is in great shape, and we continue to be optimistic about the year ahead."
Shares rose 4% to 868p.