Business
Trading update for the 13 week period to 27 May 23
Trading update for the 13 week period to 27 May 23.
About this update from Wh Smith Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nWH Smith PLC\n \nThe global travel retailer\n \n31 May 2023\n \nTrading update for the 13 week period to 27 May 2023\n \nContinued strong momentum across our global Travel business;\nexpectations for the full year increased\n \nAs we approach the peak trading period in Travel, the business continues to perform strongly across all our key travel markets, with total Travel revenue in the 13 weeks to 27 May 2023 up 31% versus the prior year. As such, since our announcement on the 20 April, our expectations for the full financial year have further improved.\n \nOur strategy for growth continues to deliver. We have now won over 70 stores in Travel so far this financial year, with further wins since our last update in all three divisions including at Salt Lake City and Portland airports in North America. Our pipeline of stores won and yet to open is over 130. We are very well positioned for further growth across our Travel markets in the current financial year and beyond.\n \nGroup revenue growth in the period compared to 2022 has been:\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTotal vs 2022\n\n\nLFL1 vs 2022\n\n\n\n\n13 weeks to\n27 May 2023\n\n\n13 weeks to\n27 May 2023\n\n\n\n\nTravel UK\n\n\n24%\n\n\n21%\n\n\n\n\nNorth America\n\n\n26%2\n\n\n5%\n\n\n\n\nRest of the World\n\n\n79%3\n\n\n39%\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nTotal Travel\n\n\n31%\n\n\n18%\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nHigh Street4\n\n\n2%\n\n\n3%\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nGroup\n\n\n23%\n\n\n14%\n\n\n\n\n1 At constant currency\n2 Includes +5% impact from currency translation\n3 Includes +2% impact from currency translation \n4 Includes internet businesses \nTravel\n \nOur UK division continues to perform strongly, driven by category expansion, our focus on average transaction value, the success of InMotion, our travel essentials one-stop-shop format and the ongoing recovery in passenger numbers. In the 13 weeks to 27 May 2023, Travel UK total revenue was up 24% on last year. Total revenue compared to the prior year was up 26% in air and up 33% in hospitals. Rail was up 10% despite the ongoing impact of industrial action.\n \nTotal revenue in our North America division during the 13 week period was up 26% on last year as we open our pipeline of new stores and passen...