Mothercare sees weaker sales trend

Babycare retailer Mothercare today needed strong growth from its international operations to offset a downturn at its UK stores over Christmas.

The group’s UK shops suffered a like-for-like sales drop of 0.3% in the 13 weeks to January 12, while total worldwide sales were up 5.1%, with total international sales up 38%, although not on a like-for-like basis.

The figures for the third quarter were much weaker than the trend earlier in the year, as Mothercare said UK like-for-like store sales were up 1.1% in the 41 weeks to January 12.

It has revived its fortunes in recent months following an overhaul of its UK high-street operation, as well as from a solid performance by its home shopping and online arm Direct In Home.

Mothercare said it faced a “volatile UK consumer environment”, with November offering difficult trading conditions, although this improved in December.

The group’s results also suffered from higher-than-planned mark-downs on products in the festive season.