Briscoes profits soars 32pc on fatter margins, rising sales

Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke said he was cautiously optimistic about the current financial year in what he described as a challenging retail environment. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Briscoe Group, which operates stores selling household items and sports goods, says first-half profit rose at least 32 percent as the retailer widened gross margins on more rigorous promotions and inventory management at the same time as lifting sales.

Net profit was at least $27 million in the six months ended July 31, up from $20.5 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement.

Second-quarter sales rose 9 percent to $135.4 million, led by a 14 percent gain in sporting goods revenue and a 6.6 percent increase in its homeware sales division.

The pick-up in sales was boosted by new stores, and sales were up 6.5 percent on a same-store basis. That followed on from an 11 percent lift in first-quarter sales.

"Our bottom line is tracking well ahead of last year despite the high levels of competitiveness across the retailing sectors in which we operate," managing director Rod Duke said.

"We are very pleased with the gross margin percentage performance achieved for this half, however we are conscious that hedging of foreign exchange exposures at less-favourable rates than last year will continue to flow through to the cost of imported product."

In March, Duke said he was cautiously optimistic about the current financial year in what he described as a challenging retail environment, and government data today showed retail trade was one sector showing accelerating wage inflation after the government hiked the minimum wage, effective from April.

Duke today said the weaker currency will put more pressure on gross margins in the second half of the year, which is also a week shorter than in the previous financial year.

The shares rose 5.2 percent to $3.44, having climbed 14 percent so far this year, tracking a similar gain on the S&P/NZX All Index.

Briscoe expects to report its first half results on September 19.