Mothercare defies crunch with 9.4pc boost in sales
MOTHERCARE, the baby products retailer, bucked the recession with improved first-quarter sales driven by a growing international business and a weaker currency.
The group said its sales rose 9.4 per cent in the 15 weeks to 10 July, with its international division leading the way with a 32.7 per cent rise in retail sales.
Underlying UK sales rose 5.1 per cent, while sales at Direct in Home, its home delivery business, grew 17.4 per cent.
The group opened 30 new stores overseas during the quarter – mainly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East – and now has 639 in total.
“The international business continues to grow rapidly and was boosted by the weakness of sterling,” the company said in a statement. “Whilst this has been a positive start to the year, we continue to manage the business tightly in an uncertain global consumer environment.”