Smoke ban boosting food sales

May 2, 2006: Early signs show that the smoking ban in Scotland is boosting pub food sales, according to pubco Mitchells & Butlers.

The five per cent of the firm's estate in Scotland has continued to generate good sales growth since March 26, with the initial impact of the smoking ban being to improve food sales. This trend, if sustained, makes the company about confident the impact of a similar ban when it is introduced in England next year.

Mitchells & Butlers was unveiling figures for the 13 weeks to April 22 when like-for-like sales growth improved to 4.3 per cent.