AGM Statement & IMS

RNS Number : 7468V

Mothercare PLC

16 July 2009

 



MOTHERCARE PLC

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

At the Mothercare Annual General Meeting to be held at 10.30 this morning, Ian Peacock, Chairman, will give the following update on trading for the 15 weeks ended 10 July 2009 (first quarter).

Group performance : First quarter

• Total group sales up 9.4%

• UK like-for-like sales(1)up 5.1%
• Total UK sales up 3.1%

• Direct in Home sales up 17.4%

• International retail sales(1) up 32.7%

Ian Peacock, Chairman said:

'This has been another strong sales performance with both the Mothercare and Early Learning Centre brands operating well across all channels. Our International franchise business continues to grow rapidly with retail sales up 32.7% boosted by the weakness of Sterling and by 30 new overseas store openings in the first quarter. With new stores opened in Eastern Europe and the Middle East in particular, we now have 639 overseas stores trading in 50 countries.

'The multi-channel UK business again grew like-for-like sales, helped by the performance of Direct, the Early Learning Centre inserts in Mothercare stores and strong sales of summer product. The summer sale is progressing in line with plan and we enter the new season with a clean stock position. Whilst this has been a positive start to the year, we continue to manage the business tightly in an uncertain global consumer environment.'

Enquiries to:

Mothercare plc

Ben Gordon, Chief Executive               01923 206001

Neil Harrington, Finance Director         01923 206187

Brunswick Group

Catherine Hicks/Catriona McDermott    020 7404 5959

Note 1 - 'Like-for-like' sales are defined as sales for stores that have been trading continuously from the same selling space for at least a year and include Direct in Home and Direct in Store. Sales from Early Learning Centre inserts in Mothercare stores are included where they are trading in existing Mothercare space. International retail sales are the estimated retail sales of our overseas franchise partners and joint ventures.

 

END

 

 

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