Mothercare’s UK sales fell again in the past three months, more than wiping out strong growth from its international business.
Total group sales slipped 0.5% in the 13 weeks to last Saturday with international up 12.6% and the UK down 6.9%.
Chief executive Simon Calver said: “As planned, during the quarter we closed a further five loss-making stores in the UK, and year-on-year increased space by 11.9% across our international markets.
“We are continuing to make fundamental improvements to our business in the UK, which will allow us to compete effectively in a changing market place.”
Setting aside the closed stores in the UK, like-for-like sales at Mothercare — whose ranges include ones designed by Jamie Oliver’s wife Jools — were down only 1.9%, which was better than some analysts had feared.
Broker Peel Hunt cut its profit forecast for the full year to March by 12% to £17.5 million.
