B&M posted a 4.4% uptick in its first quarter sales as the warmer Spring weather drove demand for its garden and outdoor furniture ranges.

Group revenue for the discount chain topped £1.4bn in the 13 weeks to 28 June, with UK sales up 4.7% to £1.13bn and sales across its France division up 7.6% to £136m. Heron Foods saw revenue slide 0.4% to £138m.

On a like-for-like basis, B&M’s UK sales rose 1.3% while French sales increased 1.1%.

The retailer’s garden, toys and DIY categories performed well in sales values and volumes in the UK “assisted by drier weather and Easter timing”, despite deflation in average selling prices leading to a lower trading gross margin.

The growth helped to offset a decline in the company’s FMCG comparative sales, which was down in the quarter.

B&M said it was on track to open 45 gross new stores in the UK this year, with the 18 opened during the quarter.

Chief executive Tjeerd Jegen, who took up the position in June, said: “My early days spent listening to and learning from our passionate colleagues and customers have underlined for me the strength of our value-focused model, which is more crucial than ever in the current challenging economic climate.

“While B&M UK’s like-for-like sales are growing, I see a significant opportunity and requirement to sharpen our commercial and operational execution as we move towards and beyond the Golden Quarter.

“Looking ahead, my focus is on building on our strong foundations, leveraging our market position, and continuing to deliver exceptional value for our customers.”

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