Pub chain J D Wetherspoon flags slower recent sales growth, backs outlook

Nov 4 (Reuters) - British pub chain JD Wetherspoon said on Wednesday like-for-like sales rose 8.2% in the 14 weeks to November 1, though growth slowed in the latest five weeks, and it remained comfortable with market expectations for the year.

• The pub operator, known colloquially as Spoons, said like-for-like sales growth eased to 7.5% in the most recent five weeks from 8.6% in the preceding nine weeks

• Chairman Tim Martin said the company was comfortable with current market expectations

• “The company has had a good start to the financial year. There are still three quarters to go and profit forecasts are very dependent on the level of sales growth," said Martin

• The analysts' consensus profit estimate for fiscal 2027, compiled by the company, is £76.4 million ($102.8 million) for a 53-week year, compared with profit of £77.7 million in fiscal 2026, on an adjusted basis

($1 = 0.7433 pounds)

(Reporting by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru; Editing by Jochelle Mendonca)