Financial Highlights
Total revenue up 14.2% to £2,030.0 million (2011/12: £1,778.0 million).
Group like for like sales up 3.7%.
Underlying profit before tax up 11.4% to £356.5 million (2011/12: £320.1 million).
Underlying basic EPS up 12.0% to 150.45p (2011/12: 134.35p).
Full year dividend up 12.0% to 57.40p (2011/12: 51.25p).
Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants profits up 5.9% to £313.1 million, Costa profits up 29.3% to £90.1 million.
Premier Inn total sales up 13.1% and like for like sales up 3.1%.
Costa total sales up 24.1% and like for like sales up 6.8%.
Group return on capital up 0.4%pts to 14.0%.
Strong cash flow from operations of £526.0 million funded capital investment of £343.6 million and supports a 12.0% dividend growth.
Year end net debt down by £33.2 million to £471.1 million.
Anthony Habgood, Chairman, said:
"Whitbread has grown its total sales in the year by over 14% and continued to produce strong operating cash flows of over £500 million. This has funded both significant organic investment to grow our businesses and a double digit percentage increase in our dividends while maintaining prudent debt levels. With the Premier Inn and Costa brand propositions going from strength to strength this growth is set to continue."
Andy Harrison, Chief Executive, said:
"This is another set of excellent Whitbread results, delivering double digit growth in sales, profit and dividend. Over the last five years, throughout the worst of the economic downturn, Whitbread has grown its sales by 11% per annum and profits by 12% per annum, together with 12% per annum growth in dividends. Return on capital has also increased from 11.4% to 14.0% over that period.
In April 2011 we established ambitious milestones to grow Premier Inn UK rooms by 50% to 65,000 rooms and to double Costa's worldwide system sales to £1.3bn. We are well on track to achieve these milestones and have announced new 2018 milestones to grow Premier Inn UK by 45% to around 75,000 rooms and to double Costa's system sales to around £2bn. This exciting organic growth opportunity, together with a clear focus on returns, will continue to create substantial shareholder value.
In the first few weeks of our new financial year, Group trading has been in line with our plan. Premier Inn has maintained its positive momentum. The unseasonably cold weather has held back sales within Restaurants, and benefitted Costa."
