Matalan has reported a robust third-quarter performance, underpinned by improving like-for-like sales, strong digital growth and continued focus on margins and operational efficiency.
For the quarter ended 28 November 2025, the fashion and homeware retailer delivered pre-IFRS16 EBITDA of £27m, up 38% year on year. Like-for-like sales increased by 2% in Q3.
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Digital was a standout channel during the period, with online like-for-like sales up 11%. Black Friday marked Matalan’s strongest-ever online sales day outside of the Covid pandemic, reflecting sustained investment in its digital proposition.
The retailer is set to launch a new native app later this year alongside a refreshed loyalty scheme as it looks to further strengthen customer engagement.
Store investment is also delivering results. Refreshed locations outperformed the wider estate by 12% during the quarter, prompting plans to upgrade a further 40 stores in the next financial year.
Trading over the peak Christmas period was resilient. In the nine weeks to 2 January 2026, like-for-like sales increased by 1%, with women’s outerwear and men’s formalwear and sportswear among the strongest-performing categories. Matalan said it gained market share in both womenswear and menswear over the period, citing improvements in product offer and brand perception.
Overall, the retailer outperformed the wider market between October and December, achieving year-on-year sales growth ahead of peers.
Karl-Heinz Holland, Executive Chair of Matalan, commented: “Our business transformation continues to deliver tangible results, with another strong quarter of EBITDA performance, alongside a return to sales growth.
”This reflects our relentless focus on delivering better quality, style and value, underpinned by sustained investment in product, stores and digital. This has enabled us to outperform the market, despite a challenging trading backdrop. Looking ahead, we look forward to welcoming our new CEO Henrik next month and remain confident in the business delivering sustainable profitable growth.”
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