Bookseller Waterstones has pledged to continue to invest “in our teams, our shops and our infrastructure”, after reporting surging full-year profits and sales.
In its financial report for the 2024/25 financial year, covering the 53-week period ending May 3, 2025, and published on Companies House, the retailer reported a 7% jump in total sales to £565.6m.
On a like-for-like basis, adjusted for the additional week in the financial period and store openings and closures, the retailer’s sales increased by 5%.
Operating profit before exceptional items increased to £49.7m, up from £45.6m the previous year, due to “consistent improvements achieved across the business, offset by cost increases, notably in employment costs”.
Waterstones said that sales of fiction were “particularly strong” during the period, as were sales of children’s educational toys and stationery.
The retailer opened seven net new stores during the period, ending the financial year with 316 stores.
In the report, the retailer said: “We thank our customers for their loyalty, and our booksellers and support teams for their dedication and hard work. We appreciate greatly the ongoing support of our publishing partners and that of our other suppliers.”
It added: “Waterstones has continued to enjoy healthy sales in the current financial year and enters 2026 with a great deal of optimism given the encouraging publishing pipeline and continued strong performance across the business.”
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