Burberry is to stretch its trademark plaid across an expanded footwear collection next year.
Outgoing chief operating and financial officer Mike Metcalf said it would be 'uprating' the Burberry footwear offer for autumn/winter 2004, in line with other luxury brands.
Burberry has been performing well across all major product categories, including men's and womenswear. Metcalf said the fledgling homewares offer remained a 'test activity' and was not ready to roll yet.
Egg's FD Stacey Cartwright will take over as chief financial officer when Metcalf leaves to pursue an executive role in March. Cartwright's brief does not include his chief operating duties, and chief executive Rose Marie Bravo hinted she was still looking to 'strengthen the team.'
There had been talk that Bravo might jump ship to Gucci, which is searching for replacements for guiding spirits Domenico De Sole and Tom Ford, but she denied any move.
Majority shareholder GUS subsequently announced plans to sell a further 10 per cent stake in the brand. However, GUS chairman Sir Victor Blank added that it remained a 'committed investor.'
'We are making more shares available in order to improve liquidity and enable new shareholders to participate in its future growth,' said Blank.
The conglomerate, which also controls Argos, was due to report first-half results on Thursday, after Retail Week went to press.
In the six months to September 30, turnover at Burberry rose 17 per cent to£321.3 million. Retail sales hiked 25 per cent to£107.2 million.
No comments yet