Store revamps help improve performance
Fashion group Austin Reed has revealed like-for-like sales are up 9.3 per cent for the 19 weeks to June 10.

Across the group total sales were up 7 per cent for the period. At the main Austin Reed fascia, like-for-like sales - excluding the Regent Street branch - were up 8.3 per cent. Sales of the CC brand also showed strong growth, with like-for-likes increasing 10.1 per cent.

In an AGM statement released today, the group said: 'The encouraging start to the season has continued. In both businesses, we have continued to improve margins and control stocks and costs.'

In April, the clothing group revealed it made a pre-tax profit of£200,000 for the financial year ending January 28, compared with losses of£1.9 million the year before. The improved performance at the Austin Reed brand was attributed to the store modernisation programme, with like-for-likes increasing by 1 per cent for the year. However, CC sales were down 9 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

Country Casuals was rebranded as CC over the course of the last financial year in an attempt to make the brand more contemporary.

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