JD confident of another strong Christmas

JD Sports Fashion said today trading had picked-up ahead of the most crucial month in the retail calendar.

The Bury-based group, which operates the JD, Bank and Scotts high street brands, said it was in good shape for Christmas.

Executive chairman Peter Cowgill told TheBusinessDesk: “I think we are in good shape. We have a good proposition and I think we’re in the right space. We have had a series of successful Christmases and we aim to build on them.”

JD, which recently bought the Canterbury brand and also bought a small footwear chain in France said sales had improved “marginally” over the last 11 weeks.

In September the retailer, which has around 450 UK shops, reported like-for-like sales up 0.5% for its sports fascias and up 2% in its fashion fascias for the 32 weeks to September 12.

JD said margins in its second-half have been in line with expectations “so the board remains confident about the group’s prospects for the remainder of the current financial year.”

Mr Cowgill told TheBusinessDesk that he was “pleased” with the progress of the acquired businesses, but that Canterbury, as a worldwide brand, was “an especially challenging work in progress”.

He revealed that a deal to buy online retail brand Kitbag from home shopping group Findel was “not progressing”.

“We are always looking for opportunities, but there’s only so many you can take on.”