Debenhams and M&S report good festive sales at international branches

TWO British high street giants with significant Irish operations — Debenhams and Marks and Spencer — have reported positive sales for the festive period.

M&S saw sales in its international division — which includes Ireland — grow by over 8% in its third quarter, but that growth was mainly driven by sales in the priority markets of India and China.

On an overall basis, the high street giant recorded year-on-year sales growth of 2.4% for the three months to the end of December. Total sales in its core British market grew by 1.8% — largely driven by a 4.5% increase in food sales.