Strong trading drives Dunelm sales in Q3

3rd Oct 2014 08:55

Strong trading saw third quarter sales at homewares retailer Dunelm rise to £180.6m, a 17% year-on-year gain.Like-for-like growth was 8.9% compared with a 5.3% decline in the corresponding period 12 months ago, the company said, adding that gross margin had continued to rise, with an estimated 40 basis points rise compared with the equivalent quarter last year."Our sales performance has been strong in the first quarter, driven partly by soft comparatives from last year but also by the strength of the Dunelm offer and an increasing awareness of that offer across the UK," group chief executive Will Adderley said."As we look forward, our focus is very much on driving sales. We intend to capitalise on the significant investments we have made, and continue to make, across our business to underpin long term growth."Dunelm shares rose 5.20% to 835.30p at 08:49 on Friday.