Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has cautioned that its profits are likely to fall short of market expectations, attributing the potential shortfall to a significant surge in operating costs. Chairman and founder Tim Martin stated that the group has experienced "substantial increases in costs", which he anticipates will result in "profits slightly below market expectations". The warning comes as the company also revealed slower sales growth. Wetherspoon previously highlighted that rising National Insurance contributions and wages are projected to cost the business around £60 million annually, alongside an additional £1.6 million in tax this year from the Extended Producer Responsibility packaging levy. Despite these financial pressures, the pub chain reported a 3.4 per cent rise in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks ending April 2026, compared to the previous year. Like-for-like sales had risen by 4.8 per cent over the six months to the end of January.…