Sales improving for Carpetright

Specialist carpet and floor coverings chain Carpetright today reported total sales up 2.5 per cent in the UK for the 25 weeks to October 24.

On a like-for-like basis they were up four per cent.

Carpetright, which has stores in Cannock, Dudley, Kidderminster, Oldbury, Stafford, Walsall and Wolverhampton, opened five stores and has closed 27 in the year to date, giving a net reduction of 22, leaving 438 trading locations.

In the Rest of Europe, including Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, like-for-like sales increased by 5.7 per cent and total sales by 2.7 per cent.

Chief executive Wilf Walsh said: "I am pleased to report that the group continued its positive trading performance during the period. In the UK we delivered encouraging sales growth against strong comparatives in the prior year and continue to gain market share. Sales in the Rest of Europe have also continued to recover.

"Our aim to revitalise the Carpetright brand is on track. We have made further progress with the strategy of rationalising and repositioning our store portfolio and are encouraged by the early performance of our four trial concept stores in the UK. We will update shareholders on progress of our strategic initiatives at the time of the interim results in December.

"Trading in the year to date remains in line with management's expectations and our view for the year as a whole remains unchanged."