Electricals retailer Comet recorded like-for-like growth of 0.3% in the three months to July 31, parent Kesa revealed.

Comet’s total sales rose 1.9% in the first quarter, which was against a weak comparative period. Kesa reported that Comet’s rate of gross margin decline “continued to ease, aided by an improvement in the level of white goods in the sales mix”.

Comet’s performance was not reflected in Kesa’s other operations. French business Darty suffered a 3.7% like-for-like decline and other international businesses were down 10%.

At group level, sales fell 0.2% in total and 3.9% like-for-like.

Kesa chief executive Thierry Falque-Pierrotin said: “The group overall traded in line with its markets but experienced widely varying geographic market conditions.

“All of the businesses have maintained a strong focus on protecting retail profit and have prepared themselves for the most significant trading period ahead.”