La Redoute's foreign focus nets UK sales

La Redoute, the fashion catalogue business owned by Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR), has enjoyed a surge in UK sales.

Following an increased focus by the group on non-French markets, UK sales climbed 8.1 per cent in the three months to March.

UK brands Empire and youth-oriented catalogue The Store also achieved a 'very encouraging' increase of 1.5 per cent on a comparable basis. Empire doubled its number of new customers in the quarter, compared with last year.

PPR reported adjusted group sales of EUR5.76 billion (£3.83 billion) in the first quarter, an increase of 5.5 per cent before disposals and currency changes.