REG - WH Smith PLC - Trading update

WH SmithAnnouncement

Wed 07:00

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RNS Number : 2756L  WH Smith PLC  04 June 2025

WH Smith PLC

 

The global travel retailer

 

4 June 2025

 

Trading update for the 13 week period to 31 May 2025

 

Well positioned for peak summer trading period

as a pure play travel retailer

 

Our global travel business continues to perform well with total Travel revenue
in the 13 weeks to 31 May 2025 up 7% on a constant currency basis versus the
prior year. The Group is on track to deliver the full year in line with
expectations.

 

Group revenue growth in the period compared to 2024 has been:

 

                    Revenue 13 Weeks to 31 May 2025
                    Total        Total constant currency versus 2024  LFL

                    versus                                            versus

                    2024                                              2024
 Travel UK          5%           5%                                   6%
 North America      3%           7%                                   2%
 Rest of the World  9%           12%                                  7%

 Total Travel       5%           7%                                   5%

 

Travel UK

 

Our UK division is growing and performing strongly. In the 13 weeks to 31 May
2025, total revenue was up 5% on last year with LFL revenue up 6%. Across our
channels, LFL revenue in Air was up 7%, Hospitals were up 3%, and Rail was up
6% in the period.

 

We continue to invest in the quality of our UK store portfolio. We recently
refitted 7 stores at Edinburgh airport, including our latest one-stop-shop
format, a new standalone bookshop, and our first Smith's Family Kitchen coffee
proposition in an airport.

 

North America

 

Total revenue in our North America division during the 13 week period was up
7% on last year on a constant currency basis. LFL revenue was up 2%,
reflecting strong spend per passenger growth, our forensic approach to space
management, including enhancing our ranges and broadening our categories, and
the resilient nature of our business.

 

In our Air business, the largest part of our North America division combining
our Travel Essentials and InMotion businesses, LFL revenue was up 4% with
total growth on a constant currency basis up 9%.

 

Store openings in Air in the period include 10 new stores across airports
including, Calgary, Denver, Detroit and Washington.

 

Rest of the World

 

We are making good progress in growing our Rest of the World business and the
opportunities are significant. Total revenue for the 13 week period to 31 May
2025 was up 12% on last year on a constant currency basis and up 7% on a LFL
basis, as passenger numbers continue to improve across these markets.

High Street

On the 28 March 2025, we announced the sale of our UK High Street business
to Modella Capital. We are on track to complete the sale at the end of June
2025.

 

Outlook

 

Since our Interim Results announcement on the16 April 2025, our expectations
for the full financial year are unchanged.

 

Looking ahead, while we are mindful of the broader economic and geopolitical
uncertainty, the Group is well positioned as we enter our peak summer trading
period. We are strengthening our focus on cost and cash discipline, and we are
in a strong position to capitalise on substantial value creating opportunities
that exist across our markets.

 

Enquiries:

 

WH Smith PLC

Mark
Boyle
Investor Relations                         07879
897687

Nicola
Hillman
Media Relations                            01793
563354

 

Brunswick

Tim Danaher
                                                                    0207
404 5959

 

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