Jonathan Neame, CEO, Shepherd Neame

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame is toasting a rise in sales - bucking a national trend.

The 300-year old Faversham company boosted total sales by 5.2% in the 12 months ending this June.

Turnover went up to £121.3m, while profit before tax and exceptional items rose by 9.7% to £8m.

But total beer sales really defied the odds - rising by 4%, in comparison to a total drop of 7.1% nationally. In total, we drank a jaw-dropping 69 million pints of the frothy stuff in that year.

Chairman Miles Templeman, former director-general of the Institute of Directors, hailed another strong performance, with record turnover and beer volume.

But he criticised the Government for "failing to recognise the importance of beer and pubs to the economy and the social and cultural life of the UK or to live up to its favourable statements at the time of the Election.

"We continue to make strong representation to the Government that the planned duty increases will make an unfair and unsustainable position even worse", he said.

Jonathan Neame, chief executive, said: "This has been a good year in a very challenging consumer climate.

"Our beer volume, food and accommodation sales have outperformed the market and our brand and pub portfolios have become stronger.

"However, the general economic and industry outlook remains challenging as we face the twin issues of decline in consumer incomes and inflation in our cost base."

Shepherd Neame owns 359 pubs.