Fashion retailer's store refits are almost complete
Value fashion specialist Peacocks Group continued to perform strongly, despite the slowing market.

The company, which comprises Peacocks, Bonmarché and The Fragrance Shop, revealed like-for-like sales up 6.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to October 1. Total sales at the fast-growing group were up 12 per cent.

Like-for-like sales were up 6.3 per cent at the 436 Peacocks stores, with womenswear performing particularly well. The refit programme is almost complete, with 97 per cent of stores now modernised.

There was an apparent improvement in the performance of the 354-store Bonmarché business, where like-for-like sales were up 5.8 per cent over the period. However, the stores were up against weak comparative figures from last year and were boosted by clearance activity.

'It remains too early to gauge whether the recovery initiatives put in place will lead to sustained improvements in performance,' the company said.

Eight more The Fragrance Shop units were opened during the quarter, taking the total to 68. Like-for-like sales for the division rose by 2.8 per cent.

Topics