Major disruption across the M25 and M1 has pushed motorway service station operator Roadchef into the red during 2024, it has emerged.
The Staffordshire-based firm, which runs a network of 30 motorway service stations, has recorded a pre-tax loss of £5.9m for its most recent financial year, as reported by .
This figure follows the company securing a pre-tax profit of £13.4m in 2023.
Nevertheless, Roadchef had previously slipped to a pre-tax loss of £6.6m in the preceding year.
Fresh accounts lodged with Companies House also reveal the group's turnover dropped in 2024 from £256m to £247.4m.
Roadchef's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) declined by 10.5 per cent to £39.9m during the period.
The firm stated this outcome was "reflective of challenging trading conditions for the group, with continued economic uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures for our customers."
It continued: "Trading has been impacted in the year due to significant roadwork disruption on the M1 and M25 from which the group operates a number of motorway service areas."
"Management expect to see a recovery to revenue as the works are lifted in 2025."
Sales at Roadchef rival Moto stall
Roadchef manages 20 service areas spanning 28 sides of the motorway network.
The company also operates a two-sided service area at Sutton Scotney on the A34.
Throughout 2024, the firm's workforce fell from 3,936 to 3,817.
Roadchef has been under the ownership of a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management since 2022. Macquarie, with its headquarters in Australia, has been operating in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ since 1989.
The financial results of Roadchef follow on the heels of competitor Moto, which reported a turnover of £1bn for 2024 and a pre-tax profit of £42.2m.
The company's most recent turnover saw an increase of £8m compared to 2023, with its profit rising by the same figure.
Since 2015, Moto has been under the joint ownership of CVC Capital Partners and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
