NEWS


B&M hails positive sales performance


B


&M saw sales rise 5% over its third quarter, despite experiencing a


slowdown in growth. Watson Home Like-for-likes edged up 1.2%, despite being up against a tough comparison period last year, as total sales at the discount retailer hit £1.65bn over the 13 weeks to December 2023.UK sales increased 3.7% to £1.35bn while B&M’s French business saw a 11.3% uptick in sales.


B&M CEO, Alex Russo, said: “The performance across the ‘golden


quarter’ has been pleasing, with strong operational execution across the three businesses. “Our strategy remains unchanged – we are an everyday low- price discounter with a laser-focus in keeping excellence in retail standards and our costs the lowest. “This allows us to provide our products at the best price to all


customers, many of whom continue to face significant cost-of- living pressures.”


ProCook golden quarter sales rise


P roCook


has posted a rise in


golden quarter sales but warned it remains wary of dampened consumer


sentiment and the impact of the red sea attacks on future trading. Sales for the kitchenware retailer edged up 3% to £23.1m during the 12 weeks to 7 January, however, on a like-for-like basis revenue slipped 0.4%. Store sales were up 9.5% to £14.3m during the festive period, helping to offset a 6% drop in online revenue to £8.8m. ProCook chief executive, Lee Tappenden, said: “I am pleased


that trading metrics are continuing to improve despite the difficult consumer backdrop, and that we have delivered a robust Black Friday and Christmas trading period, outperforming our market. “Whilst we remain cautious about the timing and pace of market


recovery, we are confident in our proposition and energised by the opportunities available to us to build an even stronger customer- focused business as we continue to make good strategic progress which will allow us to accelerate profitable growth as trading conditions improve.”


6 | January/February 2024


The Inspired Home Show 2024 set for more than 1,700 exhibitors


M


ore than 1,700 exhibitors are set for The Inspired Home Show 2024, March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, the International Housewares


Association reported. The show, presenting a new two-hall layout in McCormick Place’s North and South Halls, runs each of its three days from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An extra hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday will allow buyers and exhibitors to complete meetings in progress. The new layout has the Wired + Well Expo moving from the


Lakeside Centre to the North Hall, co-locating with the Clean + Contain Expo. Exhibits and displays located in the Lakeside Centre Lobby, including the Smart Home Pavilion and Inventors Corner, will now be located in the North and South Halls. The International Sourcing Expo will return to Level 1 of the North Hall. “We’re excited about the new configuration as it creates the most vibrant, productive and efficient trade show experience possible for buyers and sellers,” said Derek Miller, IHA president & CEO. “Positioning the three primary expos, which also includes Dine + Décor, together in the North and South Halls, brings the industry’s core categories into a central location that is much easier and more efficient to navigate with quick trips between two halls now being possible.” The show is set to include 300 first-time exhibitors and


returning companies, of which more than 100 well-known brands are back after an absence, according to IHA. These include Artland, BergHOFF, BSH Bosch, Cool Gear, Corkcicle, Cuisinart, Emile Henry, Fissler, J.K. Adams, Everplush-Tricol Clean, Jean Dubost, Joseph Joseph, Keurig/Dr. Pepper, Lotus Sustainables, Midea, Opinel, Range Kleen Scan Pan, Stolzle Lausitz Glassware and Tramontina.


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