News roundup–Supergroup, Mothercare, Vente-Privee


News roundup–Supergroup, Mothercare, Vente-Privee

Total sales for the 16 weeks to 1st October rose 7.8 percent at
Sainsbury’s, with like-for-likes up 5.4 percent
in the second quarter, boosted by strong back-to-school sales. In
the first half, total sales were up 7.6 percent.

At rival supermarket Tesco, group sales in the
first half climbed 8.8 percent to £35.5 billion, with a 4.5
percent rise in UK trading profit growth. Like-for-like sales
were “weak in the UK”, said chief executive Philip
Clarke in a statement. Showing a scant 0.5 percent increase,
like-for-likes were “not helped by subdued market demand in
non-food categories, especially electronics and entertainment,
which are two of our largest product groups.”

Weak UK trading was also experienced at
Mothercare, where like-for-like sales in the
first half declined 6.8 percent and “direct-in-home”
sales dipped 2 percent. Performance in the second quarter was
particularly weak, with direct sales down 6.9 percent. The
retailer hinted that profits for the full year may be lower than
expected.

Confectionery retailer Thorntons released its
trading update for the first quarter today, reporting a sales
decline of 7.6 percent to £46.5 million. The loss of a large
corporate order meant Thorntons Direct’s sales decreased 8.1
percent during the period to £1.2 million. Consumer online
sales grew 5.1 percent year-on-year.

At Superdry owner Supergroup,
an upgrade to its warehouse management systems at the end of
August had an adverse impact on amount of stock and range of
sizes reaching its UK stores in September. As a result of being
unable to distribute its full assortment, the company suffered a
drop in sales. Supergroup aims to return to full capacity and
efficiency by November, but expects this disruption to dent
profits by up to £9 million. Stock levels will also increase
by approximately £2 million.

Secret-sales website Vente Privee says it will
generate €100 million in sales from its m-commerce presence
in 2011. In other words, more than 10 percent of the company’s
total global turnover is now generated by the mobile channel, via
Vente Privee’s iPhone, iPad, Windows and Android apps. The
etailer also has a mobile-optimised website.

Bookstore chain Waterstone’s has announced its
board of directors, chaired by Miranda Curtis, a director of
media group Liberty Global. Managing director James Daunt is
appointed to the board as an executive director, while
Waterstone’s proprietor Alexander Mamut, former HBoS chairman
Dennis Stevenson, Marina Groenberg of A&NN and Nick Perren,
chairman of Profile Books, all take up nonexecutive
directorships. The Telegraph talks to James Daunt about
Waterstone’s new chapter.

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