Mothercare bucks high street trend
UK like for likes up 0.5 per cent
UK like-for-likes were up by 0.5 per cent in the 13 weeks to 11 October, total sales were down 2.6 per cent due to a planned reduction in floor space.
Direct In Home sales rocketed by 25.1 per cent over the same period while international like-for-like sales rose 8%. Total group sales were up 0.3%. Ben Gordon, Chief Executive said: ‘The Mothercare group performed well around the world in the second quarter. Our UK business was resilient in a slow market, with our Direct business once again delivering particularly strong growth. The integration of the Early Learning Centre and the reshaping of the combined property portfolio remain on track to deliver the benefits previously announced. ‘International continues to grow rapidly. With the opening of 78 stores in the first half, including our first two stores in China, we now have 572 stores overseas trading in 49 countries. We are managing the business tightly and despite the issues in the wider economy we enter the second half benefiting from the strength of our two international brands and our positive cash position.’
