Mothercare has reported a 11.4 per cent drop in its quarterly UK like-for-like sales, for the 13 weeks to 5th January. Online sales had plummeted by 16.3 per cent with trading impacted by a drop in traffic, lower iPad sales in-store, and a scaled-back toy range. In overseas markets, retail sales fell by 1.1 per cent in constant currency and by 3.2 per cent in actual currency.
Mark Newton-Jones, chief executive of Mothercare, said: “In our interim statement we updated on progress with our strategic plans to ensure a more sustainable and ultimately profitable Mothercare business. Whilst the UK continues to be challenging, in part as a result of our planned restructuring, we are still on course to deliver the necessary transformation.”
The company said its UK store closure programme is ahead of schedule with 36 stores currently working to close down. By the end of March, Mothercare will have a total chain of 79 UK stores in operation.
Newton Jones added: “The UK business will now operate with the discipline of a franchise, allowing the wider group to focus on the Mothercare brand and making it stronger globally.”
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