JJB figures weakened by World Cup impact

JJB Sports said today it expected a “more positive” end to the year after comparisons with the 2006 World Cup dented first half sales figures.

Issuing its first update since founder David Whelan quit the business, JJB said revenues on a like-for-like basis for the past 24 weeks were down 4.1% on a year earlier, when the football tournament boosted sales of replica shirts.

Stripping out the World Cup effect, JJB said the same-store revenues figure showed an increase of 1.4%.

Chairman Roger Lane-Smith said: “We have now passed through the trading period which included the very difficult comparatives of the 2006 World Cup. I believe that despite these tough comparatives our trading results have been satisfactory.

“I look forward to what I believe will be a more positive second half of the current accounting year.”

JJB's own brands include Olympus, Patrick and Lotto.