Costa and Premier Inn owner Whitbread reports 4.3% sales rise in strong first quarter

Costa and Premier Inn owner Whitbread saw its sales rise 4.3% in the three months to 28 May compared to the same period last year, the company announced in its first quarter results on 16 June.

Compared to the quarter before, Premier Inn sales rose 14.3%, while revenue from the company's Costa division jumped by 17.2%.

Chief executive Andy Harrison said in a press release: "Whitbread has begun the new financial year well, in line with expectations, with total sales growth for the first quarter of 12.5% and good like for like sales growth of 4.3%, driven by continued momentum in Premier Inn and Costa."

In the three months, the company opened 333 UK Premier Inn rooms and it said it was planning on opening around 5,500 rooms in total over the financial year.

Costa Coffee and budget hotel chain Premier Inn lifted the company's sales up, as it reported slower growth in its hotel and restaurant divisions.

On 22 May, Whitbread announced that it had appointed Lloyds executive Alison Brittain as its chief executive, making Brittain the sixth female CEO of a FTSE 100-listed company.

"Alison has vast experience in successfully managing multi-site operations with leading brands," Whitbread chairman Richard Baker stated in a press release in May. "She has a natural ability to inspire and motivate large customer-facing teams to deliver great service."