Moss Bros store refits boost like-for-likes

For the first 16 weeks of the financial year to May 19 total sales were up 7.9% on last year with business across its retail and hire divisions continuing to perform well.

The like-for-like cash gross profit also grew during the period and was 5.2% ahead of last year.

In the interim management statement the group said its trading performance continued to improve, which is in line with market expectations and Moss Bros is on course to deliver anticipated levels of growth.

Moss Bros chief executive Brian Brick said: “We are pleased with the sales momentum which continues into this year and the ongoing control of margins. There is no doubt that we are benefiting from the continuing improvement of our product offer and the early stages of the roll out of the refurbishment of our stores in some higher profile locations is reinforcing the strength of the core Moss brand.”

The menswear group is continuing to modernise the look and feel of its Moss stores and has refitted its flagship Regent Street and Bicester Village stores. Moss Bros said the improvements have been “well received by customers”. A further ten stores have been selected for refit during the next year.

However, Brick said Moss Bros remains “cautious” about the general economic environment and the short term impact of the Olympic Games and Euro 2012 football tournament.

The company has put contingency plans in place to ease any disruption to the business resulting from the Olympic Games, particularly for its central London stores, and distribution centre in Barking.

Brick added: “We have a strong foundation from which to build and develop further our product offering, upgrade the standards of presentation of our stores and continue to improve our customers’ experience. We remain confident about our medium term growth prospects.”

Moss Bros has also appointed Neil Sansom, former marketing director at M&M Direct as its ecommerce director.

Sansom will take on the newly-created role after having been marketing director at outdoor and sports fashion retailer M&M Direct for four years.