8 Jan 2016 07:00
Friday 8th January, 2016
Crawshaw Group Plc
Trading Update
Crawshaw Group Plc ("Crawshaw", the "Company" or the "Group"), the fresh meat and food-to-go retailer, provides the following update on trading for the 15 week period since our last update on 29th September 2015 to the 3rd January 2016.
Total group sales were up 64% in the 15 week period versus the prior year, and are up 52% year to date. Like-for-like sales for the same period were up 0.8% versus the prior year, and are up 1.7% year to date.
The sales growth has been converted well with cash gross margin increasing by 65% in the 15 week period versus the prior year, and 55% year to date. This has been supported by the gross margin strengthening by 80 basis points over the same year to date period.
The Board therefore anticipates that the full year results ended 31st January 2016 will be in line with market expectations.
Chief Executive Officer, Noel Collett, comments:
"We are delighted to be able to report such strong sales performance as our growth strategy continues to rapidly enhance sales and profitability. Our growth plan is progressing very well and is on track with an increase of 17 stores for the current financial year taking our portfolio to 39 stores. We are also pleased with the positive like-for-like performance in our mature stores, particularly given the disruption and challenging high street footfall patterns caused by the prolonged adverse weather conditions in the North of England. Clearly our growth is very exciting for the business and we look to the next financial year with energy and confidence".
Enquiries:
Crawshaw Group plc
Noel Collett, Alan Richardson 01709 369 600
Peel Hunt LLP
Dan Webster, Adrian Trimmings, George Sellar 020 7418 8900