Bar chain Sports Cafe has said the early start to the domestic and European football seasons should boost its traditionally quiet summer trading period.
The group, which operates in Birmingham's Broad Street, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds, also said the capital's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics would generate "new opportunities" for the group.
It came as it posted operating profits before goodwill of £79,000 for the six months to June 30, compared with operating losses of £132,000 last time, despite tough trading conditions.
At the bottom-line, losses narrowed to £471,000, from £519,000.
Sports Cafe said the first half was extremely competitive on the high street as slower consumer spending continued to hit the sector.
It said: "The board do not anticipate that the trading climate will change significantly during the remainder of
2005."
It also expects recent consolidation in the sector to continue and added that this may create a number of new opportunities for the company.
The London-based company, which floated on the stock exchange in 2001 under the name of Coliseum, said it outperformed its trading targets for the first half of the year.
Chairman Ian Lenagan said he felt confident of achieving continued growth due to the strength of the group's portfolio. During the first half, the firm opened a new Sports Cafe in Liverpool and is due to open a site in Newcastle next month and one in Cardiff in mid-2006.
He said: "I am extremely pleased with the half-year performance of Sports Cafe."
Total sales increased by 33 per cent to £6.4 million.
