Retail chain The Range enjoyed a sales increase of £352m with stores classified as essential remaining open during lockdown periods. Total sales to the year ended January 21st 2021 were £1.35 billion, delivering post-tax profits of £145 million.
The newly filed accounts for Norton Group Holdings Ltd, the holding company which includes The Range, revealed that the year to the end of January 2021 presented “unprecedented challenges” for the company due to the Covid crisis but had been transformed by its classification as an essential trader. The business said that the significant restrictions placed on stores in Wales and Ireland, limited the products they could but otherwise its outlets, including those with Iceland branches, enjoyed high demand.
Founder Chris Dawson said: “ Due to the broad range of products sold in store, customers were able to pick up all of their essential items in a single visit, this was especially appealing during a pandemic where people had restrictions place upon them and were also conscious of the need to social distance and minimise unnecessary trips.”
The Range opened five stores in FY 2020/21, creating over 1700 new jobs and the business expects to create a further 2700 jobs this year.
Dawson added: “The group and company aim is to continue to develop their chain of retail shops both in the UK and the Republic of Ireland; in order to provide customers with value-for-money shopping, and have therefore continued with their expansion programme.”
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