WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann said international expansion is an option for the chain, which yesterday reported Christmas trading ahead of City expectations.
Swann told The Daily Telegraph: āWith the Travel business, [overseas expansion] is definitely an option. It is not at the top of the list at the moment, but I wouldnāt rule it out.ā
She said that WHSmith is not represented at all in Ireland and is considering areas of mainland Europe where English is spoken, such as Scandinavia.
Like-for-like sales in the 21 weeks to January 26 fell 3 per cent at WHSmith's high street division, but rose 3 per cent ā excluding tobacco ā at its fast-growing Travel division, which has stores in UK airports and railways. Both divisions improved their margins year on year.
WHSmith also announced plans to returnĀ£90 million of cash to shareholders.
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