Listed clothing and food retailer Woolworths has reported a 16,3% rise in sales for the six-months to end-December 2005 compared to the same period a year earlier.
In a trading statement released on Wednesday, Woolworths said trading over the festive season had been in line with expectations.
Its clothing and home division recorded total sales growth of 12,6% y/y for the six months, while comparable store sales rose 8,2% y/y with an average deflation rate of approximately -2,3% over the period.
Food sales for the half-year period grew by 20,9% y/y in total, and by 12,2% on a comparable store basis.
Regarding trading space, the group’s corporate stores saw an increase of 4,2% in clothing and home and 6,5% in food over the period.
Retail sales for Woolworths’ Australian subsidiary Country Road were 6,3% higher in Australian dollar terms for the six months to end-December, with good volume increases, and total sales rose by 1%.
The group plans to release its interim results for the 26 weeks to December 25, 2005, in mid-February, it noted. – I-Net Bridge