Tue Jan 11 07:05:00 UTC 2011
Shoprite Holdings has announced turnover growth for the six months to December 2010 of 9,5% to R36,3bn despite internal deflation averaging 1,2% during that period. Growth on a like-for-like basis was 2,8%. It ended the period strongly with sales growth of 11,9% for December.
Shoprite CEO Whitey Basson said the group’s core business, its supermarket operation in South Africa, increased sales by 8,4% and by 3,2% on a like-for-like basis.
Due to the continued weakening of most non-RSA currencies against the rand, the turnover of the group’s non-RSA supermarkets in rand terms increased by only 3,0% and, on a like-for-like basis, by about 1,0%. However, taken at constant currencies, a rand turnover growth of 13,5% was achieved.
Basson said the group’s furniture division grew sales by 4,3% during the reporting period. The furniture industry was harder hit by the current economic slowdown than most other areas of the retail sector.
Shoprite’s financial results are expected to be published on 22 February.
ISSUED BY De Kock Communications
ON BEHALF OF Shoprite Holdings
DATE ISSUED Tuesday, 11 January 2011
ENQUIRIES Carel Goosen, deputy MD Shoprite Holdings, 021 980 4065
Ben de Kock, DKC, 021 422 2690