Revenue for the year stands at £810.3 million, while gross margin is 47.5 per cent, 0.2 per cent up on the 05/06 period.
Says non-executive chairman Roger Lane-Smith: “I am encouraged by the performance that we have achieved during the 52 weeks to January 28, 2007 with the adjusted operating profit increasing by 28.1 per cent to £46.4 million.
“Whilst higher revenue of football replica kit generated by the FIFA World Cup and certain Premiership team kit launches explains much of the improvement, our ‘Serious about sport’ stance, which helps to differentiate our product offering from that of our competitors, together with the continuing growth from our Leisure Division, have also made a significant contribution.
“The current year will continue to be very competitive. However, we will continue with the fitting-out of our adidas and Nike ‘in-store’ areas, whilst at the same time pushing forward with the expansion of our Leisure Division.
In the period to January 28, JJB opened 13 and closed 35 sites. The openings included seven combined health clubs/superstores, three standalone superstores and two football stores acquired from Glasgow Rangers and Everton. The closures included 21 stores that formerly traded as Icon stores and six superstores that closed as a result of relocations to newly opened sites.
The company’s total portfolio comprises 416 stores. JJB plans to open a further nine combined health clubs/superstores and 10 standalone superstores this year.
JJB also reported that its transactional website (www.jjbsports.com) increased revenue by 150 per cent in the four weeks to Christmas 2006, compared to the same period in 2005.
In addition, reference was made to The Consumers Association’s representative action for damages against JJB to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The action has been bought on behalf of consumers for losses suffered by purchasing certain replica shirts in 2000 and 2001.
JJB made an offer to give a free England shirt and mug to anyone who presented one of these old replica shirts in its stores.
