Business
Half Year Trading Update
Half Year Trading Update.
About this update from Dfs Furniture Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 2375E DFS Furniture plc 08 February 2018 \n\n8 February 2018 For immediate release\nDFS Furniture plc (\"DFS\" and the \"Group\")\nHalf Year Trading Update\n \nPERFORMANCE ON TRACK\n \n· On-plan trading performance despite continued challenging market conditions\n· Strategic development continues with strong online channel performance and five new DFS showrooms opened\n· Expectations for full-year financial performance remain unchanged\n \nSolid trading performance \nThe Group delivered gross sales growth of 4.0%, in the 26 weeks to 27 January 2018, measured against the comparable 26-week period in the prior financial year (including the benefit of the acquisition of Sofology). \nGross sales for the Group, excluding the sales of Sofology, over the first half of the current financial year were 3.5% lower than the prior year, but 3.3% higher when measured over two years. Our online channels, together with our developing Dwell business have once again grown strongly within this overall performance. \nWe opened four new UK DFS showrooms and one DFS showroom in the Netherlands during the half year, and converted existing leased space within DFS showrooms to accommodate five new Dwell stores and five new Sofa Workshop showrooms. \nWith the like-for-like trading momentum for the Group strengthening during the first half of the financial year, we continue to expect the second half of the financial year to demonstrate a stronger year-on-year gross sales tre...