Sign In
Last checked at 
15 Jan 2009 07:00
ο»Ώ
MOTHERCARE PLC
THIRDΒ QUARTERΒ TRADING UPDATE
Strong performance in the third quarter
Mothercare plc, the leading global retailer of parenting and children's products,Β today issuedΒ anΒ update on tradingΒ for theΒ 13 weeksΒ endedΒ 9 January 2009Β ("third quarter").
GroupΒ performanceΒ :Β thirdΒ quarter
Total group sales up 4.2%
UKΒ like-for-like(1)Β sales upΒ 1.1%;Β totalΒ UKΒ sales downΒ 1.8% (due to planned reduction in space)
Direct in Home sales up 15.6%
International retail sales(1)Β upΒ 49.1%
GroupΒ performanceΒ :Β year-to-date
Total group sales up 7.2% (up 2.3% on a proforma(2)Β basis)
UKΒ like-for-like sales up 0.9%; totalΒ UKΒ sales up 2.8% (down 1.9% on a proforma basis due to planned reduction in space)
Direct in Home sales up 31.6% (up 21.4% on a proforma basis)
International retail sales up 45.7% (up 41.1% on a proforma basis)
Ben Gordon, Chief Executive said:
"The Mothercare group has performed well in the third quarter reflecting the strengthΒ and resilienceΒ of the Mothercare andΒ Early Learning CentreΒ brandsΒ around the world.
"International is having a record year. We opened the group's 1,000th store worldwide in Dubai in December. We now have 1,011 stores worldwide including 603 Mothercare and Early Learning Centre stores outside the UK in 50 countries.
"In theΒ UKΒ ourΒ multi-channel business hasΒ againΒ grown like-for-like salesΒ in aΒ difficult market, boosted byΒ strong performancesΒ from DirectΒ and theΒ Early Learning CentreΒ insertsΒ now in Mothercare stores.Β The winter sale is progressing well and weΒ enter the new season with a clean stock position. Our balance sheet and cash flow remain strong and the group is debt freeΒ and cash positive. We continue to manage the business tightly and weΒ currently anticipateΒ thatΒ profits(3)Β for the full financial yearΒ willΒ be in line with expectations."
Enquiries to:
Mothercare plc
|
Ben Gordon, Chief Executive |
01923 206001 |
|
Neil Harrington, Finance Director |
01923 206187 |
Brunswick Group
|
Catherine Hicks/Catriona McDermott
|
020 7404 5959 |
Note 1Β -Β "Like-for-like" salesΒ are defined as sales growth for stores that have been trading continuously from the same selling space for at least a yearΒ and include Direct. Sales from Early Learning CentreΒ insertsΒ in Mothercare stores are included where they are tradingΒ in existing Mothercare space.Β Like-for-like sales are presented on a proforma basisΒ (note 2).Β InternationalΒ retailΒ sales areΒ the estimated retail sales ofΒ ourΒ overseasΒ franchise partnersΒ and joint ventures.
Note 2Β -Β On 19 June 2007, MothercareΒ acquiredΒ the Early Learning Centre. For ease of analysis, certain results are also presented on a "proforma" basis which assumes that the Early Learning Centre had been owned forΒ all ofΒ this year and last year.
Note 3Β -Β Profit is defined as group underlying profit before taxation which excludes exceptional and other non-underlying items.
Follow the stocks
