Agenda: Pets at Home, Topps Tiles and McColl’s update the market

Pets at Home

Pets at Home posts its interims results on Tuesday.

The retailer posted increased sales during its first quarter and raised its full-year guidance but “remains cautiously optimistic” in the current climate.

The pet specialist registered group sales growth of 9.9% to £303.4m during the 16 weeks to July 18.

Its retail arm of the business was up 8.7% to £266.4m for the same period and its online sales jumped 36% to £26m. Its vet practice revenue jumped 18.8% to £37m.

The pet specialist now expects its underlying profit for the year to be “slightly above current market expectations”.

Topps Tiles

Topps Tiles posts its prelims on Tuesday.

The flooring specialist has said it expects its full-year like-for-like sales to be up year on year, with profits in line with current market expectations.

The retailer said in a preliminary trading update that it expected full-year like-for-like sales to be up 0.6% overall, against flat sales the previous financial year.

Strong like-for-like sales growth in the retailer’s third quarter of 3.8% was dampened by a 1.9% decline in the fourth quarter.

Topps Tiles attributed its fourth-quarter sales decline to economic and consumer uncertainty.

Sosandar

Sosandar posts its interim results on Wednesday.

The etailer posted a jump in sales following investment in its marketing strategy and broadening product ranges.

The online fashion retailer registered a 53% increase in revenue to £2.82m for the six months to September 30. The etailer posted a 84% increase in sales during its second quarter and a 112% jump during September.

Sosandar reported a record number of email subscriber sign-ups – increasing 224% – in September following its first TV advertising campaign.

Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason posts its full-year results on Thursday.

The luxury food retailer said pre-tax profit jumped 26% to £9.6m in the year to July 31, 2018.

Revenues climbed 12% to £126m during the 12-month period, marking Fortnums’ sixth consecutive year of double-digit sales growth.

The retailer, which operates an iconic store in London’s Piccadilly, said “strong” multichannel performance was “at the heart” of its success.

Online sales increased 21%, buoyed by demand from international markets including Hong Kong, where sales surged 55%. Fortnums sold to 125 countries across the globe during the financial year. 

GFK survey 

The latest GFK consumer confidence survey is released on Friday.

Consumer confidence declined in October as political and Brexit uncertainty bit.

GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index was down two points to -14 in October – when all five measures of sentiment decreased. A three-point fall in confidence in people’s personal situation in the coming year, a key measure for retailers, will worry the industry.

McColl’s

McColl’s posts a pre-close update on Friday

Convenience retailer McColl’s had reported a fall in profits after a “challenging” year.

It was hit by disruption to supply following the collapse of supplier Palmer & Harvey, but said it was confident in its long-term strategy.

Profit before tax fell from £18.4m to £7.9m in the year to November 5, 2018, when total sales rose 8.1% to £1.24bn.

MColl’s said like-for-likes fell 1.4% as disruption to its supply chain bit, but they improved over the year to become flat in the final quarter and so far in the new financial year like-for-likes have advanced 1.2%.

Black Friday 

The famous discounting event is on Friday and many retailers have already launched Sales prior to the traditionally one-day event.

According to a survey by PwC, UK shoppers plan to spend 10% more than last year over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period, with the average consumer planning to spend £224.