JD Sports reported a like-for-like sales increase of 5.7 per cent for the 23 weeks to January 6, while the Allsports stores, which the group acquired last year, have, says the company, benefited from the JD product offer and distribution service over Christmas to produce results in line with management expectations.
Says Executive Chairman Peter Cowgill: “We are pleased with our performance over the Christmas period and the year to date and believe it demonstrates that our retail proposition and operational strategy are continuing the improvement in performance of the group.”
JJB, meanwhile, said that its total revenue for the 22 weeks to December 31, 2006 was six per cent higher than in the comparative period in 2005 and included an increase in like-for-like revenue of 6.3 per cent.
According to JJB, satisfactory increases in gross profits were achieved in all product categories, with the biggest increases being in replica products, particularly of the major Premiership clubs and Glasgow Rangers, from whom JJB secured the marketing rights in 2006.
“I am pleased with JJB’s trading performance throughout the current accounting period, including around Christmas and New Year,” says Roger Lane-Smith, JJB’s non-executive chairman.
“Looking forward to 2007, I believe that the progress we have made following the introduction of new distribution arrangements with Nike and adidas give us the opportunity to further emphasise our ‘Serious about Sport’ stance and that the continuing roll-out of combined health clubs/superstores will result in an increased contribution to profits from our Leisure Division.”
