- Huw Hughes
-
|
Mothercare has reported a 14.4 million pound profit for the full year
ended 28 March, compared to a loss of 97 million pounds the year before.
However, total group revenue at the maternity and babywear specialist
for the period was down to 164.7 million pounds compared to 199.8 million
pounds a year earlier.
For the first twenty-eight weeks of FY21, revenue was down 39 percent to
145.8 million pounds, which the company attributed to the Covid-19
lockdowns which “severely affected” the group’s franchise partners.
“We have diligently managed our way through to mitigate the impact of
the Covid-19 pandemic during this period of global crisis, and we emerge in
better shape than we went into it. We continue to reduce costs and improve
our efficiency,” commented chairman Clive Whiley.
In August, the company announced the launch of a “more sustainable and
less capital-intensive” business model from the AW20 season. It came after
the company put its UK business into administration last year with all 79
of its stores closed.
“This new model results in our franchise partners contracting to pay for
products directly to our manufacturing partners, thus removing the timing
mismatch we were experiencing with the reduction in our payment terms and
so improving the group’s working capital requirements,” the company said in
August.
The retailer also recently launched its new 10-year UK and Ireland
franchise deal with Boots, which was initially announced in December but
was repeatedly delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, it has entered into a new 20-year franchise agreement with
Alshaya, its largest partner.
Photo credit: Mothercare UK, Facebook
