JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub operator has capped a turnaround in its business, claiming to be one of the UK’s largest coffee chains as it tries to turn changed licensing laws and smoking bans to its advantage by opening for breakfast and installing plasma TV screens.
The group said pre-tax profit for the full year was up 24% despite a slump in sales and profit at the fume-free pubs.
References: Financial Times 09/09/06 page 18, Daily Telegraph 09/09/06 page 25, The Times 09/09/06 page 65, The Guardian 09/09/06 page 32, The Independent 09/09/06 page 53
