REG - Halfords Group PLC - Interim Management Statement <Origin Href="QuoteRef">HFD.L</Origin>

HalfordsAnnouncement

06/09/2014 14:36

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RNS Number : 9150L
Halfords Group PLC
10 July 2014 
 
Halfords Group plc 
 
First-Quarter FY15 Interim Management Statement 
 
Halfords Group plc ("the Group"), the UK's leading retailer of automotive and
leisure products and services and leading independent operator in garage
servicing and auto repair, today updates the market on its trading performance
for the 13-week period to 27 June 2014: 
 
                              % change  
 TOTAL REVENUE                          
 Halfords Group               +7.9      
 Retail                       +7.7      
 Autocentres                  +9.4      
                                        
 LIKE-for-LIKE (LfL) REVENUE            
 Retail                       +7.9      
 Cycling                      +21.3     
 Car Maintenance              +0.5      
 Car Enhancement              +0.1      
 Travel Solutions             +4.2      
 Autocentres                  +4.3      
 
 
Key Points For The Quarter 
 
·      Cycling: strong growth in all areas with Premium Bike sales increasing
by 35.1% 
 
·      Car Maintenance: a good Workshop performance offset by a tough
comparative in parts sales 
 
·      Car Enhancement: Car Cleaning sales up 16.2% mitigating declines in
both Sat Nav and Audio 
 
·      Travel Solutions: compelling offers in roof boxes and roof bars
resonated well with customers 
 
·      Online Retail: sales up 13.1% driven by a strong performance in
Cycling 
 
·      Autocentres: positive momentum continued with new management focusing
on the customer experience 
 
Financial Position and Outlook 
 
The Group's financial position remains sound. All guidance for the full year
remains unchanged. 
 
Matt Davies, Chief Executive, commented: 
 
"Halfords continued to drive top-line growth in the quarter, with the Cycling
category delivering another exceptional performance. Our actions resulted in
growth across all elements of Cycling reflecting our continued focus in the
category, enhanced by favourable weather and increased interest in the Tour de
France. Against a challenging comparative, Car Maintenance sales were
satisfactory whilst significant levels of clearance in Car Enhancement in the
prior year comparative were negated by our continued success in Car Cleaning.
Our customer-centric approach delivered further growth in Travel Solutions. 
 
The acquisition of Boardman Bikes and the launch of Car Parts Direct had a
negligible effect on the sales performance but are illustrations of our intent
to grow our authority in Cycling and Auto. Getting Into Gear continues to
progress within Retail, whilst Autocentres will deliver an improved experience
for motorists." 
 
Enquiries 
 
 Investors & Analysts (Halfords)                                     +44 (0) 1527 513 113  
 Andrew Findlay, Chief Financial Officer                                                   
 Craig Marks, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications                        
                                                                                           
 Media (Maitland)                                                    +44 (0) 207 379 5151  
 Neil Bennet                                                                               
 
 
Notes 
 
1.   Like-for-like sales represent revenues from UK and Irish stores and UK
centres trading for greater than 365 days 
 
2.   Where appropriate, revenues denominated in foreign currencies have been
translated at constant rates of exchange 
 
Conference Call 
 
There will be a conference call for investors and sell-side analysts at 8am
today. The participant dial-in is 
 
0203 139 4830 or 0808 237 0030 (toll free). The PIN is 83644814#. 
 
To access a recording of the call, the participant dial-in is 0203 426 2807 or
0808 237 0026 (toll free). The PIN is 649168#.  A transcript of the call will
appear online in due course. 
 
Reporting Calendar 
 
The Halfords Group interim results will be published on 6 November 2014. 
 
Notes to Editors 
 
www.halfords.com 
 
www.halfordscompany.com 
 
www.halfordsautocentres.com 
 
Halfords is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, cycling and leisure
products and, through Halfords Autocentres, also one of the UK's leading
independent car servicing and repair operators. Halfords customers shop at 465
stores in the UK and ROI and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store
or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from over 300 sites
nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car
servicing at affordable prices. 
 
The Halfords group strategy is based on three pillars: 
 
·      Supporting Drivers Of Every Car 
 
·      Inspiring Cyclists Of Every Age 
 
·      Equipping Families For Their Leisure Time 
 
The Getting Into Gear strategy for the Retail business is based on executing
in five key areas in order to deliver a significantly-enhanced customer
experience: 
 
·      Service Revolution 
 
·      The H Factor 
 
·      Stores Fit to Shop 
 
·      21st Century Infrastructure 
 
·      Click with the Digital Future 
 
Halfords employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and sells around 9,000
product lines in store, increasing to around 30,000 Retail products online.
The Retail offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycling
products, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes and camping equipment.
Halfords' own cycling brands include Apollo, Carrera and Boardman cycles,
augmented by a range of other brands of cycles and accessories, including
Kona,Mongoose, Raleigh and Pinarello. In Auto, the Halfords Essentials and
Halfords Enhanced ranges are sold alongside brands such asGeneric Electric,
Bosch, Garmin and TomTom. In Travel Solutions, Halfords sells a premium range
of camping equipment including brands such as Vango and Outwell. Halfords
offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called 'wefit' for car
parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and
a 'werepair' service for cycles. 
 
Cautionary Statement 
 
This report is based on information from unaudited management accounts and
contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial
condition, results of operations, and businesses of Halfords Group plc.  These
statements and forecasts involve risk, uncertainty and assumptions because
they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will occur in the
future.  There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or
developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are made only as
at the date of this announcement.  Nothing in this announcement should be
construed as a profit forecast.  Except as required by law, Halfords Group plc
has no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to correct any
inaccuracies therein. 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange