Debenhams upbeat despite sales slip

Department store Debenhams today said it had not been blown off course by the weather despite losing an estimated £30m (€36m) of sales to the snow.

Having seen improved trading in the autumn, the chain said like-for-like sales in the 19 weeks to January 8 were reduced by between 2.5% and 3% due to the snow, leaving same-store sales across the period 1.3% lower on a year earlier.