Home and DIY firm Wickes has reported an increase in sales and profit as volumes across retail and design and installation boosted growth.
Total revenue rose 5.6% to £847.9m in the 26 weeks to June 28, while statutory profit before tax increased 5.7% to £4.2m.
Retail revenues saw a jump of 6.8% from £594m to £634.4m year on year. Design and installation sales rose 2.1% from £209.2m to £213.4m.
Its TradePro business is performing strongly, as sales have risen 10% year on year. DIY sales saw mid-single-digit growth as volumes were driven by increasing customer transactions.
Wickes also gained record retail market share as timber, garden maintenance and decorating drove gains.
It added that digital investments have also underpinned growth and productivity.
Current trading in the third quarter has been in line with expectations, with increased people costs and new stores set to have an impact in the second half of the year.
Wickes chief executive David Wood said: “Wickes has delivered a strong first half, with volume growth across the group. I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication, providing outstanding customer service and helping the nation feel house proud.
“In retail, we have achieved record market share growth and have prioritised convenience, choice and speed, helping grow TradePro sales by a further 10%. With DIY, our focus on broadening appeal and innovating in strategic categories has seen more customers choose Wickes to bring their home improvement projects to life.
“In design and installation, the actions we undertook to enhance the customer experience have seen us return to like-for-like sales growth, ahead of the wider market for big ticket items.
“Our proven strategy is working. While we remain mindful of the cost headwinds facing the sector as a whole, continued investment in our growth levers and digital initiatives means we are well positioned for the future and remain comfortable with market expectations for the full year”.
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