SSP Group H1 Pretax Profit Rises

SSP Group PLC posted a rise in its pretax profit for the six months ended March 31 and declared an interim dividend. SSP Group posted a pretax profit of GBP16.4 million, versus GBP10.9 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue shrank to GBP859.2 million, versus GBP865.8 million. Like-for-like sales rose 3 percent. The company's board declared an interim dividend of 2.1 pence per share. SSP Group CEO Kate Swann said, "Our confidence in the future is supported by our increasing investment in the business and by the further strengthening of the portfolio of brands and concepts we offer to our clients. The second half of the financial year has started in line with our expectations, and while a degree of uncertainty always exists around passenger numbers in the short-term, we continue to be well positioned to benefit from the underlying positive trends in our markets."