Business

Dunelm profit sinks amid challenging retail environment

Homewares retailer Dunelm saw its profits fall by almost a third in the last year after it was stung by costs related to its acquisition of Worldstores and falling store sales
Homewares retailer Dunelm saw its profits fall by almost a third in the last year after it was stung by costs related to its acquisition of Worldstores and falling store sales Homewares retailer Dunelm saw its profits fall by almost a third in the last year after it was stung by costs related to its acquisition of Worldstores and falling store sales

PROFIT at Dunelm fell by almost a third last year after the homewares retailer was stung by costs related to its acquisition of Worldstores and falling store sales.

The firm - which last month saw its chief executive, John Browett, step down with immediate effect for "personal reasons" - reported a 28.3 per cent fall in pre-tax profit to £92.4 million in the year to July 1.

Like-for-like sales dipped 0.5 per cent in the period, with comparable store sales falling 2.4 per cent.

Overall revenue rose 8.5 per cent to £955.6 million.

Dunelm pointed to a "challenging and subdued market environment" and also pinned the profit fall on losses at recently acquired Worldstores and increased investment.

Chairman Andy Harrison said: "Dunelm has made good strategic progress over the year, most notably with the acquisition of Worldstores, which moves us closer to our goal of being the biggest and best multichannel homewares retailer in the UK.

"We expect the trading climate to remain challenging with the disposable income of UK consumers under pressure."

The news comes after Dunelm warned in February that costs were starting to rise in the face of the Brexit-induced collapse in the value of the pound, resulting in a more "challenging" retail environment.

But Mr Harrison chose to focus on the future, adding that the group is still aiming to double sales to £2 billion, driven by its online offering.

Dunlem said that sales in the first two months of the new financial year have started "positively", with good like-for-like sales boosted by favourable weather.