Halfords Regulatory News (HFD)

11 March 2014

Halfords Group plc

Driving The Top Line: Site Visit To Evesham Store

Halfords Group plc ("the Group"), the UK's leading retailer of automotive and leisure products and services and leading independent operator in garage servicing and auto repair, today hosts a tour of its refreshed Evesham store for institutional investors and investment-research analysts.

The event will focus on the Halfords Retail business and will also comprise brief presentations from members of the management team, including Emma Fox (Commercial Director), Rob Swyer (Retail Director) and Andrew Findlay (Group Finance Director); these presentations will cover a short update on progress within the Getting Into Gear programme announced in May 2013.

The event is primarily focused on the changes that have been made in-store. Although these are still at an early stage within what is a three-year plan, the changes are delivering results in line with management's plans and investment criteria. There is no change to guidance or management's expectations of the potential financial implications to the Group.

Matt Davies, Chief Executive commented:

"Today's event provides an update on our Getting Into Gear plan to significantly enhance the experience for our Retail customers. This strategy is based on supporting our colleagues to deliver consistent friendly expertise augmented by major improvements in store environments, plus building on the authority of our offer, infrastructure and online capabilities. Given the early progress made, we are encouraged by the first steps of a strategy designed to deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth over the long term."

Notes 

1. The event will not be webcast and there will be no discussion on the Group's current trading or outlook. The presentation materials will be made available at www.halfordscompany.com later today.

2. Halfords intends to announce its preliminary results for the year ending 31 March 2014 on 22 May 2014. Financial year 2015 will be reported on a 52 and 53-week basis.

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www.halfordscompany.com

www.halfordsautocentres.com

Halfords Group plc

Halfords is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, cycling and leisure products and, through Halfords Autocentres, also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operators. Halfords customers shop at 465 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from around 300 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices.

The Halfords group strategy is based on three pillars:

· Supporting Drivers Of Every Car

· Inspiring Cyclists Of Every Age

· Equipping Families For Their Leisure Time

The Getting Into Gear plan for the Retail business is based on executing in five key areas in order to deliver a significantly-enhanced customer experience:

· Service Revolution

· The H Factor

· Stores Fit to Shop

· 21st Century Infrastructure

· Click with the Digital Future

Halfords employs approximately 11,000 colleagues and sells around 10,000 product lines in store, increasing to around 30,000 lines online. The product offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment. Halfords own brands include Apollo and Carrera cycles, augmented by exclusive UK distribution rights for premium range Boardman cycles and accessories. In outdoor leisure, we sell a range of camping equipment including brands such as Gelert. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a "werepair" service for cycles.