Slow clothing sales and Roches integration blamed
Department store group Debenhams revealed UK retail like-for-likes slid 4 per cent for the 19 weeks to January 13 and remains cautious about the outlook for the full year.
Total cumulative sales increased 6.3 per cent against the comparable period.
Group sales were affected by slower than expected clothing performance and by the integration of the Roches stores in Ireland because of their reliance on lower gross margin concession sales.
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman said: 'Debenhams' sales performance has improved since we reported figures for the period to December 10, 2006, but the market remains challenging and we are cautious about the out-turn for the rest of this financial year.'
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