Crawshaw sales improve as it gears up for busy Christmas

29th Nov 2016 11:36

(ShareCast News) - Crawshaw Group is trading in line with expectations as the fresh meat retailer's sales improved after it increased focus on marketing and value products, while it gears up for a busy Christmas.The AIM-listed company said it has focused on marketing and value products and returned to localising products to areas, which has resulted in higher customer numbers and sales.Like-for-like sales have improved from -15.8% for the first seven weeks of the first half of the year to -8.1% for the four weeks ended 27 November, due to a 13% gain in customers.Due to seasonal offers and better value Christmas meat hampers, like-for-like sales are expected to increase further in December.The company said it was confident in the actions taken so far and that it was "encouraged" by the early improvements in sales, but understands that progress needed to be maintained through the "key winter and festive period to deliver full year profit expectations".Crawshaw also opened its 50th store, in Manchester, which is its second standalone factory shop to open in the year.Chief executive Noel Collett said: "We are encouraged by the customer reaction to the changes we've made to the proposition and are confident sales will continue to improve through the important winter and festive period."Our store teams are set to give our customers a great Christmas which will provide the platform to further restore sales momentum in the new year."Shares in Crawshaw were up 5.07% to 23.64p at 1133 GMT.