14 January 2010
Home Retail Group plc
Interim Management Statement
Home Retail Group, the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer, today publishes an Interim Management Statement for the 18 weeks from Sunday 30 August 2009 to Saturday 2 January 2010.
Terry Duddy, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group, commented:
"Argos has performed ahead of our plans in its most important trading period, and Homebase trading has continued to be strong. There was also further excellent cost management across both businesses. We now expect Group benchmark profit before tax for this financial year to be about £20m ahead of the current market consensus of £265m.
"Due to the uncertain economic outlook, we expect trading for the next financial year to remain challenging. We will plan accordingly from a position of continued operational and financial strength."
|
Latest period (18 weeks to 2 January) |
|
Year-to-date (44 weeks to 2 January) |
Argos |
|
|
|
Sales |
£1,922m |
|
£3,810m |
Like-for-like change in sales |
0.1% |
|
(1.0%) |
Net new space contribution to sales change |
3.8% |
|
3.8% |
Total sales change |
3.9% |
|
2.8% |
Gross margin movement |
Down c.250bps |
|
Down c.175bps |
|
|
|
|
Homebase |
|
|
|
Sales |
£501m |
|
£1,367m |
Like-for-like change in sales |
4.0% |
|
3.2% |
Net new space contribution to sales change |
0.6% |
|
1.3% |
Total sales change |
4.6% |
|
4.5% |
Gross margin movement |
Down c. 375bps |
|
Down c.350bps |
|
|
|
|
Total sales at Argos grew by 3.9% to £1,922m. Net new space contributed 3.8%; a net five new stores opened in the quarter, taking the portfolio to 744.
The internet represented 35% of Argos sales, up from 30% a year earlier. Three-quarters of these sales were online Check & Reserve orders, which grew by 34%.
The approximate 250 basis point gross margin decline was driven principally by the anticipated net impact of adverse currency movements, together with the sales mix impact and increased promotional activity.
The Argos Spring/Summer 2010 catalogue will launch on 23 January 2010; this is one week later than the previous year as a result of the calendar effect.
Homebase
Total sales at Homebase grew by 4.6% to £501m. Net new space contributed 0.6%; there was one opening and two closures in the period, reducing the portfolio to 349.
Like-for-like sales increased by 4.0% in the period. Growth was again led by big ticket areas, particularly kitchens, and nearly all other product categories saw positive growth.
The approximate 375 basis point gross margin decline was driven principally by the anticipated net impact of adverse currency movements, together with increased promotional activity.
Financial position
No material events, transactions or other impacts on the Group's strong financial position have taken place since the previously announced 29 August 2009 balance sheet date.
Enquiries
Analysts and investors (Home Retail Group)
Richard Ashton
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Finance Director
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01908 600 291
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Stuart Ford
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Head of Investor Relations
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Media (Finsbury)
Rollo Head
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020 7251 3801
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There will be a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss this statement at 8.30am this morning. The call can be listened to live on the Home Retail Group website www.homeretailgroup.com. An indexed replay will also be available on the website later in the day.
Home Retail Group will announce details of trading for the remaining eight weeks of the current financial year (3 January 2010 to 27 February 2010) on Thursday 11 March 2010, and its full-year results on Wednesday 28 April 2010.
Information in this announcement is based upon unaudited management accounts. In addition, certain statements made are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any expected future events or results referred to in these forward looking statements.