World Cup boosts sales at JD Sports

JD SPORTS Fashion, the North West retail group, has seen sales improve thanks to the World Cup and also reported a return to growth in its fashion business.

In an interim management statement ahead of today’s annual meeting the Bury company said like-for-like sales growth improved to 4.1% in the 18 weeks to June 5.

This compared with a 2% increase in the first 10 weeks of the period.

The business, which trades as JD Sports, Chausport, Size, Bank and Scotts from over 530 stores, said sales of sporting goods were up 5.1%, from 3%. Fashion sales were down 1.2%, improving from a 3.5% decline.

“Margins achieved have continued to be encouraging, with particularly satisfactory progress in fashion,” said the company in a statement.

In the past year the group has expanded its reach through selective acquisitions in new locations.

In April it said revenue in the 52 weeks to January 30 was up 15% at £769.7m. After exceptional items of £5m – which included a £4.1m gain on the sale of its stake in Wigan-based rival JJB Sports, JD saw profit rise 61% to £61.4m. JD expects to post interim figures on September 21.