Dunelm sales slow

27th Apr 2010 08:03

Homewares retailer Dunelm has seen a sharp slowdown in sales growth over the past four months and cautioned it faces tough comparisons over the rest of the year.Sales in the 16 weeks to 24 April rose by 10.9%, compared with a 19.9% for the whole year so far, while on a like-for-like basis sales growth dropped to 1.6% in the last 16 weeks against 10% for the whole 42 week period. "We are satisfied with our overall performance so far this half, although trade has slowed somewhat after a good Easter," chief executive Will Adderley commented.The retailer added it benefited from a strong Easter promotion to show growth of just over 3%, having been up by around 1% in the comparable period last year. LFL growth in the final 10 weeks of last financial year was 9.5%.The group opened new superstores in the half in Dundee and Bolton. Stores in Taunton and Barrow in Furness will open during May, bringing total openings for the year to 10. The total number of stores trading as at 24 April was 102, including 92 superstores.