Carpetright boosted by new stores

Floor coverings retailer Carpetright today said 60 new store openings helped it increase first-half sales by 6% in the UK and Ireland.

In the rest of Europe total sales grew 9% due to a strong performance in Belgium and the Netherlands, it said.

Like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland were flat at 0.3% while like-for-like sales in Europe were up by 4% for the 25 weeks to April 28.

Carpetright’s chairman and chief executive Lord Harris of Peckham said: “We are pleased with our overall sales performance in the UK and Republic of Ireland and we have improved gross margins by at least 2%.

“We have continued to expand our store base and are well placed to take advantage of improving markets.”

He said further new stores are planned for Poland and the Netherlands in the second half.

Shares were up by more than 1% today as investors cheered the trading update.

Carpetright operates from 594 stores including 493 stores and 62 concessions in the UK and Ireland.