London, Oct 15 - Pub and brewing company Marston's reported a fall in full-year like-for-like sales on Wednesday, and said margins had come under pressure from rising food, energy, and brewing costs.
However, the group said earnings before exceptional items would be in line with expectations in 2008 as it benefited from a slightly reduced tax charge.
Marston's, which has more than 2,000 pubs in the UK including the Pitcher & Piano chain, said costs related to employment, food, energy, and raw materials were expected to rise by 12 million pounds ($21.05 million) next year.
Marston's said it would need to achieve like-for-like sales growth of about 3 percent this year if it is to achieve a similar level of operating profit in its managed pubs division.
In the year to Oct 4, Marston's said like-for-like sales at its managed pubs were down 0.6 percent. At its tenanted and leased pubs comparable sales were down 1.7 percent.