FINANCE: Whitbread has posted a rise in profits before tax of 18.5% in the six-month period ending 28 August.
Like-for-like sales for the company, which owns Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, were up 7%.
Underlying hotel and restaurant profits were £225m, up from £195.7m last year.
Chairman Richard Baker said: “These results build on our strong growth in profits and dividends over the last five years and show the benefit of long-term investment in our growth engines – Premier Inn and Costa.”
