Carpetright has announced LFL UK sales growth over the 25 weeks to 21st October of 0.8%, with an increase of 2.1% within the flooring category – offset in part by reduced bed sales, which the retailer says were impacted by an acceleration of re-ranging activity.
A further 21 stores were converted to the retailer's new brand identity – more than half of Carpetright's estate has now been refurbished, and those sores trading under the new identity continue to deliver sales growth above comparable stores in the rest of the estate.
Two stores were opened and nine closed in the year to date, giving a net reduction of seven, leaving 419 trading locations.
Carpetright's business in the Rest of Europe (Netherlands, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland) saw LFL sales increase by 6.3% (in local currency terms).
Chief Executive Wilf Walsh says: “While trading conditions in the UK remained volatile over the first half, the 2.1% increase in LFL sales in our core flooring category is pleasing given the increased level of competition. Total UK LFL sales in the period were impacted in the short term by our decision to accelerate the re-ranging activity in our beds business.
“Sales in our Rest of Europe business have been equally volatile, but we have been encouraged by more recent LFL sales growth, in part reflecting the strong post-refurbishment performance of the 25 rebranded stores we have now completed.
“Whilst we expect the group first-half profit to be below that of the prior year, we are pleased with the improvement in sales in the Rest of Europe and beds in the UK over the past few weeks. When these are combined with continued progress in our core flooring category we expect a significantly stronger second half with full-year profit within the current range of market expectations."
