Sales rise 12.2%; confident on prospects
Dunelm Mill said trading over the 43 weeks to April 26, 2008 saw a significant rise on the same period a year earlier.

The homewares retailer reported total sales grew by 15% and like-for-like sales by 3.9% across its 89 stores. The rise was 12.2% greater than at the same time last year (4.5% on a like-like basis).

The UK's third favourite retailer was particularly pleased with the results given the tough climate, and said it is confident about its ongoing strategy of store openings, and strengthening its position as a value for money homewares specialist.

"We have proved our resilience in the past and with the benefits of a stronger stream of new openings starting to feed through, I am confident in the prospects for our overall business performance," chief executive Will Adderley said.

Dunelm Mill continues to add to its store estate with openings in Leeds and Bournemouth in January, and its latest in Sittingbourne in April.

Trading at all of these stores have exceeded expectations so far. It has signed leases for six units with an opening date for 2009.

The chief executive said: "Our merchandise and our stores continue to attract customers and we are pleased with performance so far this period, although the cold weather has undoubtedly helped us."

The ceo went on to stress that Dunelm is facing 'very strong comparatives' in the remaining weeks of the financial year – it had like-for-like growth of 15.5% in the final nine weeks last year – and said he is cautious about the short term outlook for like-for-likes.