BREWER Whitbread - whose brands include Boddingtons, Stella Artois and Heineken - has reported major growth in sales through off-licences and supermarkets.

The firm, which brews many of its products at its Samlesbury site, said its sales in the sector grew by 12 per cent to £556 million last year.

Its sales out-performed the market as a whole, which expanded seven per cent to be worth more than £2.8 billion.

Much of the growth came from Stella Artois which consolidated its position as the brewery's number one beer with 28 per cent growth, taking its annual sales to almost £200 million.

A report by the group also highlighted a growing trend towards drinking at home, which now accounts for around 30 per cent of all beer sold in the UK.

This will be boosted by the World Cup.

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