British coffee shop, restaurant and hotel group Whitbread said like-for-like sales rose 4.2 percent in its second-quarter, helped by a modest boost to room rates from the London Olympics.
The company said total sales for the 11 weeks to Aug. 16 rose by 14.8 percent, with its rapidly expanding Costa Coffee shops up 25.3 percent and budget hotels chain Premier Inn up 13 percent.
"Our brands have outperformed in a tough economic climate, with like for like sales growth of 4.2 percent, and we have continued our network expansion at Costa and Premier Inn," the company said on Thursday.
"As expected, the Olympics provided a modest benefit, primarily through increased room rate, with occupancy slightly down on last year."
Whitbread said its ambitious growth programme was on track, with plans to open another 350 Costa Coffee sites and 4,500 Premier Inn rooms this financial year.
The figures come just a day after the company announced Nicholas Cadbury would become the company's new finance director.
