Drinks sales at liquor store chains Dan Murphy’s and BWS grew 3.4 per cent, or 1.1 per cent on a comparable store sales growth. Growth in its hotels division (encompassing more than 350 venues across the country) was slower at 2.3 per cent, or 1.5 per cent on a comparable basis.

The company has also found $100 million in cost savings and said it was on track to save $290 million by the 2026 financial year. It has made a 5 per cent improvement in productivity at Dan Murphy’s, which Donohue said he was keen to expand across the hotels business.

The $9.2 billion entity is the largest operator of pokie machines in the country, but does not break out its gambling revenue. Most (81.2 per cent) of its revenue comes from liquor sales, and 6.7 per cent of it comes from gaming, a slight decline from the year before (6.8 per cent). Bars make up 5.1 per cent and food accounts for 3.8 per cent.

Endeavour spent $64 million less on capital expenditure this year, with fewer and less expensive liquor store refurbishments, and fewer but bigger hotel renovations.

The company will pay a dividend of 21.8¢ a share, the same as last year.

Investors appeared disappointed with the result, sending the share price 6.2 per cent lower just before midday.

Analysts said that the outlook for its hotels and pub sales, which the company had “slightly improved” in the first seven weeks of the new financial year compared with the fourth quarter, was softer than expected.

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