(Reuters) – British retailer WH Smith stated on Wednesday its income within the third quarter beat pre-pandemic ranges for the primary time as extra folks journey to work and vacationers return.
The corporate, which has shops in journey hubs and sells every thing from books and sandwiches to Bluetooth headphones, expects its full-year efficiency to succeed in the upper finish of analysts’ forecasts as journey rebounds in the summertime season.
London-listed WH Smith continues to see restoration within the North American and British markets, with its whole journey enterprise income up 23% on 2019’s income within the 15 weeks to June 11.
UK retailers have been seeking to hike costs as they battle with escalating freight prices, provide disruptions, and better uncooked materials prices.
The corporate, which had suspended orders from its on-line greeting playing cards and reward unit Funky Pigeon following a cyber-security incident in April, stated its Excessive Avenue enterprise gross sales have been impacted by the incident.
Income in Excessive Avenue reached 79% of the 2019 degree throughout the quarter.
The group’s airport outlets in the UK carried out higher than rail when in comparison with 2019 ranges.
(This story corrects to 23% from 123% in paragraph 3)
Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru; enhancing by Milla Nissi