Dunelm like-for-likes up 10%

Total sales for the period were £405.7m, with 9.9% sales contribution from new space.

Over the nine-week period since its last update, the homewares retailer said like-for-like sales benefitted from a strong Easter promotion, with growth just over 3%, having been up around 1% in the comparable period last year.

Looking ahead, the retailer said comparatives will become significantly more demanding as like-for-likes in the final 10 weeks of the last financial year were up 9.5%.

Will Adderley, chief executive, said: “We are satisfied with our overall performance so far this half, although trade has slowed somewhat after a good Easter. I am particularly pleased about the way customers continue to react to our new and refitted stores. This underlines the level of growth still available to us from new space as well as from upgrading our existing estate.”

Dunelm has opened superstores in Dundee and Bolton so far this year. Shops in Taunton and Barrow-in-Furness will open in May, taking the total openings for the year to 10.

The retailer now has 102 shops, including 92 superstores. It previously said the UK can support a chain of at least 150-200 superstores.

Since Christmas, Dunelm has completed major refits in two stores and a further three are in progress. It said trading in refitted stores continues to show growth of approximately 10% above trend.