AGM Statement

MFI Furniture Group PLC 19 May 2006 19 May 2006 MFI Furniture Group Plc AGM STATEMENT At the Annual General Meeting of MFI Furniture Group Plc to be held later today the Chairman, Ian Peacock, will make the following comments: 'Performance so far this year (from Boxing Day 2005), in all parts of the Group, is in line with our expectations. For Howden UK, total sales in 2006 are up 12% on the same period last year and 8% on a same depot basis. However, as previously indicated, the June 2005 sales promotion will not be repeated. As a consequence, we expect that Howden UK's total sales for the first half of this year will be similar to the same period in 2005. Gross margin has continued to improve in 2006 and is up more than 100 basis points on the same period last year. For Retail (including Sofa Workshop), consistent with our strategy of exiting unprofitable sales, orders so far this year are currently 19% lower than the same period last year, 16% down on a same store basis. However, gross margin has risen by over 350 basis points. As a result, the like for like contribution to gross profit is 9% lower than last year. Reflecting the unusually high order book at the start of 2005, we expect that sales in the first half of this year will be down further than orders. Although the performance so far this year of Retail has been in line with our expectations, the next phase of our plans involves tackling the store portfolio and local distribution model. This will involve cost and considerable executional challenges. Meanwhile, we have received expressions of interest in all or part of our Retail business from a number of third parties, and we are in the process of evaluating this interest in the context of our developing plans. We will give an update on all these activities when we announce our 2006 Interim results at the end of July.' For further information, please contact: Investors Gary Rawlinson, Head of Investor Relations, MFI Furniture Group Plc Tel: 020 7404 5959 Media Susan Gilchrist / Fiona Laffan / Anna Jones Brunswick Group Limited Tel: 020 7404 5959 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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