Festive treats for pets boost sales at Pets at Home
Pets at Home has reported a 4.9% increase in like-for-like sales in the six weeks to 12 January.
The Cheshire based pet products retailer said the growth was helped by sales of more than 1,000 advent calendars for dogs, cats and small animals and 300,000 Christmas stockings for pets during the festive season.
The company’s total sales in the 41 weeks to 12 January are 6.5% ahead following a number of new store openings. Like-for-like sales for the same period are up 1.5%.
Chief executive Matt Davies said: “Our performance over the Christmas period has been particularly pleasing given the difficult trading conditions that existed in the preceding months.
“We have seen strong sales growth in our key dog and cat food categories where we continue to grow market share.
“These results are all the more encouraging given the relatively mild winter we have experienced, which has impacted key cold weather lines such as wild bird food and small animal bedding.”
However Davies said he expected the economic environment to remain challenging.
Pets at Home, which has 308 UK stores, reported total sales of £517.8 million in the 53 weeks to 31 March 2011 and underlying pre-tax profits of £93 million.
