Halfords confident of profits after year of growth
A SOLID performance across its retail operations and Autocentres has boosted full year performance for Worcestershire retailer Halfords.
The Redditch-based company said revenues were up 3.2% in the important fourth quarter – which covers the 11 weeks to April 1, 2016 – and by 1.7% for the whole year.
Its Autocentres car maintenance division fared equally well with revenues up 2.8% in Q4 and 4.1% across the whole year.
Retail was up 3.3% for Q4 and 1.2% for the year.
On a like-for-like basis revenue for the group as a whole was up 2.6% in Q4 and 1.5% for the year.
Across the various departments, cycling was up 1.9% in Q4 but dipped by 0.9% for the full year – the only operation to show a fall.
Also on a like-for-like basis, Motoring, Car Maintenance, Car Enhancement, Travel Solutions and Autocentres all showed growth.
Jill McDonald, Chief Executive, said: “This was another good trading performance across the group. Retail sales delivered solid growth supported by our service-led offerings and in Autocentres our sales continued to grow as we invested in new and refreshed centres.”
It has said it expects full year pre-tax profit to be in the range of £78-82m, as previously guided.
The company will issue its preliminary results for the full year to April 1, 2016 on June 1.
