Greetings card specialist Card Factory generated an 8% sales uplift in its first half, when it also opened its 800th branch.

  • Like-for-likes rise 2.7%
  • Continued rise in market share expected
  • Cash to be returned to shareholders

Card Factory achieved like-for-like sales growth of 2.7% in the period to July 31 and said it was confident it would continue to increase market share.

The retailer relaunched the transactional Card Factory website in the first half and its main online business, Getting Personal, delivered “strong revenue growth”.

Although Getting Personal will face tougher comparatives in the second half, the retailer reported that “its current direction of travel continues to be very pleasing”.

Card Factory chief executive Richard Hayes said: “The group traded well in the first half with good growth continuing from the existing store estate and new store roll-out programme, as well as our developing online proposition.

“We remain confident of our ability to continue to increase market share whilst delivering on all four pillars of our growth strategy.”

The retailer will post interim results next month, when it will also reveal details of a return of surplus capital to shareholders.

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