TIDMJDW
RNS Number : 4471V
Wetherspoon (JD) PLC
13 December 2021
13(th) December 2021
J D WETHERSPOON PLC
Covid/H1 Trading Update
Wetherspoon's 10 November trading update said that some
customers, especially older customers, were "understandably
cautious" and that improvements in trade would depend on "the
outlook for the virus".
Since then, a number of academics, SAGE members and Government
ministers have called for more restrictions.
Last week the Government announced the implementation of "Plan
B", which involves additional restrictions, including advice to
work from home.
Many hospitality companies, trade organisations and economists
have highlighted the negative implications for pubs and
restaurants.
The uncertainty, and the introduction of radical changes of
direction by the Government, make predictions for sales and profits
hazardous.
The factors mentioned above will affect our first half results,
in particular, which may be loss-making or marginally
profitable.
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said:
"As previously reported, there have been no outbreaks, as
defined by the health authorities, of Covid-19 among customers in
Wetherspoon pubs.
"The typical British pub, contrary to received opinion in
academia, is usually a bastion of social distancing.
"In spite of reports of labour shortages and supply
difficulties, Wetherspoon pubs, with few exceptions, are fully
stocked and fully staffed.
"However, the repeated warnings and calls for restrictions,
mainly from SAGE members and academics, combined with arbitrary
changes of direction from the Government, invariably at short
notice, affect customer sentiment and trade.
"In effect, the country appears to be heading towards a lockdown
by stealth.
"It is especially perplexing that Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of
the South African Medical Association, who discovered the Omicron
variant, has said:
"Nothing I have seen about this new variant warrants the extreme
action the UK Government has taken in response to it".
"She recently added, in reference to Omicron, that:
"There is no reason you can't trust us when we say to you it's a
mild disease.... There is no need to hospitalise any of these mild
cases.... Whether you are a child, whether you are 80 years old,
whether you have been vaccinated, whether you have not been
vaccinated.... This is the real experience ".
"Dr Richard Friedland, chief executive of Netcare, one of South
Africa's biggest health care providers, has also recently said that
the Omicron variant is:
"... far milder than anything we experienced during the first
three waves."
"For reasons best known to themselves, perhaps in order to
encourage more vaccinations, the UK Government and its advisers are
creating an entirely different and more frightening impression of
the variant, which appears to be at odds with the South African
experience.
"In spite of these problems, booster vaccinations and better
weather in the spring are likely to have a positive impact in the
coming months.
"The company will continue to concentrate on providing high
standards of service, reasonable prices and regular, small upgrades
to the business."
Enquiries:
John Hutson Chief Executive Officer 07970 477377
Ben Whitley Finance Director 07970 477428
Eddie Gershon Company Spokesman 07956 392234
Please send any questions by email to
investorqueries@jdwetherspoon.co.uk
Notes to editors
1. J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs throughout the UK. The
company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drink,
served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices.
The pubs are individually designed, and the company aims to
maintain them in excellent condition.
2. Visit our website: www.jdwetherspoon.com
3. This announcement has been prepared solely to provide
additional information to the shareholders of J D Wetherspoon, to
meet the requirements of the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency
Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party, for any other
purposes. Forward-looking statements have been made by the
directors in good faith, using information available up until the
date on which they approved this statement. Forward-looking
statements should be regarded with caution, because of the inherent
uncertainties in economic trends and business risks.
4. The current financial year comprises 53 trading weeks to 31 July 2022.
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