Alba profits climb despite slower October sales

Electrical appliances group Alba today provided further evidence that consumers have become more cautious about splashing out on expensive items.

Electrical appliances group Alba – the company behind Goodmans and Dirt Devil vacuum cleaners – today provided further evidence that consumers have become more cautious about splashing out on expensive items.

Alba said it had seen “uncertain” market conditions, although a surge in demand for flat-screen televisions and MP3 players helped hike sales and contributed to a 4% rise in half-year profits to £7.7m (€11.1m).

Trading in October had been weaker than expected, although it added the situation improved during November.

Alba said: “Providing that this improvement continues on a year-on-year basis during December and into the New Year, the group should achieve a satisfactory result for the year as a whole.”

The company also makes telephone equipment under the Betacom, Answercall, Cable & Wireless and NTL brands.

Without including results from consumer electronics business Grundig, which Alba bought in its last financial year, like-for-like sales were 6% higher in the six months to September 30.

It said a 9% rise in sales at the UK consumer electronics division was achieved in a “significantly more challenging” market than last year.