Mothercare’s Irish arm returns to pre-tax profit

THE Irish operations of babywear and nursery retailer Mothercare returned to profit in its last financial year, according to updated accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office.

For the year to March 25, 2007, Mothercare (Ireland) generated pre-tax profits of €928,904. This compared positively to a pre-tax loss of €525,623 for the previous 12 months. Operating profit amounted to €871,700 — up from an operating loss of €568,473 for the previous year.

Mothercare (Ireland) has traded as a separate stand-alone franchise to the main British-based company since 1992. The company has two directors in Sean O’Shea and David Ward, and operates 14 stores in the Republic — in the Dublin locations of Tallaght, Blanchardstown, St Stephen’s Green, Blackrock, Swords and Jervis Street; Galway, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Tralee, Newbridge, Dundalk and Drogheda. The latter location is the newest in the company’s store portfolio and did not contribute to earnings in the fiscal year.