Travis boosted by merchant arms

11th Oct 2010 07:01

Builders merchant and Wickes' owner Travis Perkins is on track as sales improved again in the third quarter.Group turnover for the nine months to end of September rose 6.0%, driven by the merchants businesses and a modest improvement at Wickes. Both divisions increased market share.Wickes' total turnover for period to 2 October was up 2.1% with like-for-like turnover down by 0.1%. Core products were down by 2.8%, but showroom sales rose by 11.9 %. For the last thirteen weeks, total like-for-like turnover per day was up by 0.6% with relatively weaker trends in big ticket purchases. Margins improved but Travis says price promotions by rivals are now pulling some of this back. Sales in the merchanting arm rose by 7.8% over the 39 weeks with like-for-like turnover per trading day up by 7.1%. Like-for-like sales in third quarter increased by 10.3%, although this rate has slowed a little recently Travis said.General merchanting sales rose by 7.3% with like-for-like up 6.5%. Specialist merchanting sales rose 8.7% with like-for-like turnover up by 8.2%."These trends mean that group trading for the last three months is in line with our expectations," the statement said, with the outlook for the year "unchanged".