Blacks Leisure performed “very strongly” in December with like-for-like sales in its outdoor business up 10.2% for the month.
Total sales in the month for the outdoor business were up 12.9%. The 10.2% like-for-like rise is against a strong set of comparatives from the same period last year, when like-for-likes were up 14.9%.
The strong performance over the winter period helped the outdoor business deliver positive like-for-likes for the half year ending December 30 of 1.2%, with total group like-for-likes decreasing marginally by 0.1%.
Total group sales in the same 6-month period were £85.4m compared to £95.8m in the previous half year. The reduction is largely due to store closures carried out as part of Blacks Leisure’s restructuring programme.
The outdoor specialist confirmed that it remains in discussion with “a number of parties who have put in indicative offers for the whole and/or parts of the business”. It said the process is ongoing.
Blacks chief executive Neil Gillis said: “The group has performed strongly during the key Christmas trading period highlighting the strength of our offering in what continues to be a challenging retail market.
“The turnaround programme remains on track and we enter the new year in a positive financial position and focussed on continuing to deliver the benefits of the turnaround strategy.”
Gillis also revealed Blacks would be opening a new store in February with further new store openings in the pipeline in the next financial year.
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