** Upper Crust owner SSP Group SSPG.L rises as much as 7.8% to 166.10p - among top gainers on the midcap index .FTMC
** Co says annual outlook remains in line with market expectations, underpinned by strength in other regions
** LFL sales for first 6 weeks of H2 up 3%
** Adds passenger numbers in the UK, North America, and Continental Europe, which account for over 80% of group sales, are largely unaffected by the Middle East conflict to date
** YTD, the stock is down ~22%
(Reporting by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru)
((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))