Pub and bar giant Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported a slump in food sales recently, attributing the decline to hot summer weather. This dented demand for traditional steak dinners and carvery lunches, causing the company's shares to slide on Thursday. M&B stated "exceptional" heat particularly affected its food-led brands, notably Toby Carvery and Miller & Carter steakhouses. Food sales across the group, which also runs Harvester and Sizzling Pubs, fell by 2.4 per cent over the period. The flat quarterly performance reflected a slowdown in trading, following a 3.3% increase over the first half of the financial year, which had been buoyed by stronger food sales.