Marks & Spencer has reported a flat first-quarter for clothing and home furnishings but says it is on course to improve margins for apparel.
- UK first-quarter like-for-likes flat
- Food like-for-likes flat, total sales up 3.2%
- General merchandise like-for-likes flat
- Online sales jump 38.7%
The retailer revealed that its general merchandise like-for-like sales fell 0.4% in the 13 weeks to the end of June, while sales edged up 0.2% overall. The group branded it a “challenging and promotional quarter” for general merchandise.
However it said “ongoing sourcing initiatives” were improving gross margins.
In its fourth quarter, reported in May, M&S revealed its first rise in underlying sales of general merchandise for four years.
First-quarter like-for-likes were flat for food, while overall sales climbed 3.2%.
The retailer said it remains on track to open around 90 Simply Food stores this year and new stores are “performing well”.
Online sales jumped 38.7% in the quarter, although the group admitted it was against a “soft post-launch comparative”.
Overall UK like-for-likes were flat, while sales climbed 1.9%.
International sales rose 0.7% in the three-month period.
Chief executive Marc Bolland said: “We continue to make progress against our key priorities. Our food business did very well in a difficult market. In general merchandise, sales were broadly level on last year and we are on track to deliver the planned increase in gross margin.
“M&S.com performance was very strong, with customers appreciating all the improvements to our website.”
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