Regional brewer and pubs group Greene King reported a 10% rise in half-year profits and said second-half
trading had also been encouraging.
The Suffolk-based company brews Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen beers and runs nearly 1,700 pubs in southern and eastern England.
It posted pre-tax profits of £38.6m ($67m) for the 24 weeks to 19 October.
Chief Executive Tim Bridge said:"All three of our divisions increased their trading profit strongly."
Pubs bought
"We are vigorously pursuing those initiatives which will sustain our growth momentum and we face the future with confidence."
He said like-for-like sales at the firm's managed pubs grew 3.8% in the half-year, and were running ahead so far in the second half.
The 204-year old brewer has acquired Old English Inns and Morrells pubs over the last two years.
Greene King paid £67m for Morrells in June 2002, in a deal which strengthened its presence in the Thames Valley area.
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