Etailer Kitbag to launch overseas to target foreign football fans

The etailer, which already generates over 50% of its sales from overseas, is to roll out multi-language sites in the year ahead.

Findel chief executive Roger Siddle said: “Football fans looking for replica kits are naturally coming to UK retailers. There’s a strong demand. We see more growth from the rest of the world [than the UK]”.

Siddle said as well as rolling out more local language websites in countries across both the Far East and Europe, it will also step up digital marketing overseas.

Kitbag made a £1.7m operating loss in the year to March 29.  Siddle said the online business was making “steady progress” and if it maintained momentum would break into profit in its current year.

Findel’s group pre-tax profit jumped 44.9% to £15.5m over the year as its turnaround progressed.

Total sales advanced 8% to £580.6m helped by a “particularly strong” performance from mail order Express Gifts, which grew revenue 13.4%.

Siddle said it is looking to expand its range for Express Gifts. It is launching a new catalogue, named The Plus Book, and will sell additional categories such as party products.