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Costa Coffee owner to create 3,500 new jobs Costa Coffee owner to create 3,500 new jobs
(40 minutes later)
British leisure group Whitbread reported solid growth in first-quarter sales, boosted by a strong performance from its coffee shop chain Costa Coffee, and unveiled plans to create thousands of jobs.British leisure group Whitbread reported solid growth in first-quarter sales, boosted by a strong performance from its coffee shop chain Costa Coffee, and unveiled plans to create thousands of jobs.
Whitbread, which also owns budget hotel chain Premier Inn, on Tuesday said underlying sales rose 4.5% in the 13 weeks to 31 May, helped by an 8.4% rise in like-for-like sales at Costa and a 4.3% jump at Premier Inn, which it plans to expand.Whitbread, which also owns budget hotel chain Premier Inn, on Tuesday said underlying sales rose 4.5% in the 13 weeks to 31 May, helped by an 8.4% rise in like-for-like sales at Costa and a 4.3% jump at Premier Inn, which it plans to expand.
"Our plans for profitable growth are well established, supported by our strong balance sheet, and we plan to open 4,200 Premier Inn rooms, eight joint site restaurants and 350 new Costa stores this financial year, creating an additional 3,500 UK jobs," said chief executive Andy Harrison. "Our plans for profitable growth are well established, supported by our strong balance sheet, and we plan to open 4,200 Premier Inn rooms, eight joint site restaurants and 350 new Costa stores this financial year, creating an additional 3,500 UK jobs," said Whitebread's chief executive, Andy Harrison.
"For the second quarter we face tougher comparatives against a strong result last year, together with the uncertain impact of this summer's major sporting events.""For the second quarter we face tougher comparatives against a strong result last year, together with the uncertain impact of this summer's major sporting events."
Costa is already Britain's biggest coffee shop brand with almost 1,400 shops and has a further 800 units in 25 overseas markets, including China and India.Costa is already Britain's biggest coffee shop brand with almost 1,400 shops and has a further 800 units in 25 overseas markets, including China and India.
The company said Costa opened 35 new UK stores in the quarter and 35 new stores in Asia, including 22 in China where it now has 186 stores. The company said Costa opened 35 new UK stores in the quarter and 35 new stores in Asia, including 22 in China, where it now has 186 stores.
Like-for-like sales at Premier Inn grew by 3 % in the quarter with occupancy up 1.3 percentage points to 76.2%. Like-for-like sales at Premier Inn grew by 3% in the quarter, with occupancy up 1.3 percentage points to 76.2%.
In April, Whitbread posted a rise in full-year profit and said Premier Inn had enjoyed sales growth since the start of the new financial year, recovering from a dip over Christmas and in the early part of 2012. In April, Whitbread posted a rise in full-year profits and said Premier Inn had enjoyed sales growth since the start of the new financial year, recovering from a dip over Christmas and in the early part of 2012.