// Sales at Jojo Maman Bébé fall almost 7% due to effects from the pandemic

// The mother & baby retailer said trading was “severely damaged” by covid19 lockdowns

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, total sales of JoJo Maman Bébé fell 6.9 per cent to £62.3 million in the year to 30 June 2020.

The online sales of the mother and baby retailer increased by 29.9 per cent year over year.

Jojo Maman Bébé stopped its newly launched American direct-to-consumer business throughout the year in order to refocus on its UK Irish and worldwide trade markets.

“While retail trading was severely damaged by the pandemic lockdowns, sales were encouraging when the predominantly local stores were permitted to reopen,” the company said.

“The business had to bid a sad farewell to a couple of their much-loved UK stores where end-of-lease negotiations to reduce occupation costs were not successful.

“Notwithstanding this, maintaining a bricks-and-mortar presence in parent-friendly communities and county town centres remains a critical element of the JoJo brand, and is boosted by the trend in consumers moving to localised shopping.”