Dixons Carphone reports ‘solid’ Christmas trading
Dixons Carphone has described its trading as solid over the peak Christmas trading period following a 1% uplift in group like-for-like revenue.
In the 10 weeks to 5 January, UK and Ireland electrical like-for-like sales rose by 2%. Dixons Carphone said the performance was driven by good sales in the TV, gaming, smart tech, small domestic appliance and vision categories.
In contrast, mobile like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland were down 7% in the period. The retailer attributed the fall to a continued decline in the 24-month postpay market.
Meanwhile, international like-for-likes increased by 5% with sales in Dixons Carphone’s Nordic region and Greece rising by 3% and 19% respectively.
Alex Baldock, Dixons Carphone group chief executive, said: “Peak trading was solid and in line with expectations, producing record sales against a tough backdrop. We continued to grow our leading electrical market positions in all territories, online and instore. In UK mobile, performance was as expected. Overall, our peak trading was disciplined and well-executed, with stable gross margins.”
As a result of the Christmas performance, the retailer is keeping its full year pre-tax profit guidance of around £300 million unchanged.
Baldock added: “We continue to make good early progress with our long-term plans to deliver more engaged colleagues, more satisfied customers and a more valuable business for shareholders. It will take time and much hard work to unleash the true potential of this business, but we’re on with it.”
