Marston's sees year results in line with expectations

LONDON (Reuters) - Pub operator and brewer Marston's (MARS.L) reported a slight rise in group turnover on Monday and said it anticipated results for the full year would be broadly in line with its expectations.

The group, updating on trade for the first 43 weeks of the year, said the market remained difficult and it was cautious about the outlook for the rest of the year.

Marston's said turnover for the 43 weeks to July 26 was up 2 percent from last year. Like-for-like sales at its Inns and Taverns division was 0.6 percent below the same period in 2007, while like-for-like profit at its Pub Company was down 1.2 percent.

"We remain cautious about the outlook for 2008 as we have not seen any sustained improvement in the trading environment in the second half-year to date, and the market remains difficult," the group said in a statement.

However it added it was confident in its business model, strong balance sheet and financing structure.

"We anticipate that our results for the financial year as a whole will be broadly in line with our expectations," it said.

(Reporting by Jodie Ginsberg; Editing by David Holmes)