Comet hi-tech sales shooting up

Comet owner Kesa said today the electrical retailer was continuing to benefit from its strategic repositioning as it announced a positive start to the year.

Kesa, which demerged from B&Q owner Kingfisher in July, said turnover at Comet was up 6.5% overall and 4.4% on a like-for-like basis.

Comet has been refocusing on larger stores and sales of “new technology” goods such as flat screen televisions.

Kesa said all its businesses had seen an accelerating rise in sales of such hi-tech goods.

But the group said its French furniture and electrical retailer BUT had put in a “disappointing performance”, with like-for-like turnover falling by 3% despite strong sales of multimedia products.

Chief executive Jean-Noel Labroue said it had been an “encouraging start to the year”.

He said: “Taken as a whole, the group has performed in line with expectations.”