Costa Coffee gives Whitbread a shot in the arm

Premier Inn owner Whitbread has seen sales at Costa Coffee bounce back, but said conditions remain challenging for its hotels and restaurants.

Sales at Costa have bounced back. Picture: Neil Hanna

The group yesterday cheered a “good start” to its financial year for the coffee chain as it posted a 2.6 per cent rise in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 2 June, marking a recovery after sales were hit in the previous quarter.

It said Premier Inn like-for-like sales lifted by 2.1 per cent in a “weaker-than-expected hotel market”.