WHSmith said it was well positioned to enter the summer trading period as sales jumped 5% in its last quarter.
Group like-for-likes rose 4% in the 13 weeks to 1 June, led by a 5% jump in travel like-for-likes. The UK travel market was the star of the show, with like-for-likes up 8% and total sales up 9%.
It said the transformation of the business to a “one-stop-shop” for travel essentials is delivering strong results, increasing average transaction values and returns.
Air sales increased 8%, while hospitals jumped 14% and rail 8%.
The retailer has focused on developing and launching new categories. Over the quarter it launched a new food-to-go brand, Smiths Family Kitchen, in more than 300 stores and it said customer feedback had been positive.
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However, the retailer’s high street sales, including online, dipped 4% and was down 1% on a like-for-like basis.
WHSmith said the early feedback on its roll out of Toys R Us shop-in-shops was “good” and it was on track to open a further 25 shop-in-shops during the rest of the financial year.
The retailer said it was “well positioned” as it enters the peak summer trading period and was in a “strong position to capitalise on substantial growth opportunities across our markets”.
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