Burberry Among Retailers Enjoying Merry Xmas

Burberry has shrugged of "disruption" to business following political protests in Hong Kong to record a 15% rise in sales during its Christmas quarter.

The luxury brand was among a host of retailers, including SuperDry and Ocado, to report rising revenues during the festive season.

Burberry said its quarterly revenue hit £604m, with like-for-like sales rising 8%, as its expansion continued in the period.

A flagship store was relocated on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

It also opened a new store in Tokyo, two further concession stores in Japan and a beauty store in Seoul.

Chief creative and executive officer Christopher Bailey said: "We're pleased to report a strong performance over this important period, during which our teams worked tirelessly to bring the very best of the brand to the customer in our stores and online.

"Looking ahead, we will bring equal focus to maximising the opportunities of the final quarter – including Lunar New Year – while being mindful of what remains a challenging external environment."

Burberry recorded double-digit percentage comparable sales growth in the Americas and its Europe and Middle East regions.

The company said Asia Pacific delivered low single-digit percentage growth, primarily reflecting the disruption in Hong Kong but said comparable sales fell "slightly" in what is a high margin market.

Online sales "outperformed" in all regions, Burberry said.

SuperGroup (Other OTC: SEPGY - news) , which owns SuperDry, said a "strong" performance over its peak Christmas period saw total retail sales for the 11 weeks to 10 January increase by 17.8%.

Like-for-like sales grew by 12.4% and it said colder weather and record online sales in the run up to Christmas helped revenues.

Its chief executive Euan Sutherland, who joined the firm last year after leaving the Co-operative Group, said: "I am pleased to report a very strong set of results over the peak trading period.

"Our upgraded infrastructure was tested to the full by Black Friday and in the busy lead up to Christmas and has proven to be resilient and effective.

"A record performance from e-commerce combined with strong store operations led to what became a truly multi-channel Christmas."

Of the other retailers reporting, the online grocer Ocado said retail sales in December rose 14.8% on last year.

Cineworld said it expected its annual profits to be at the top end of market forecasts as its UK and Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) business outperformed.

It said a 3.7% fall in admissions was largely offset by a 4% rise in average ticket prices during 2014 but it believed that a strong film line-up this year, including the new James Bond movie, Spectre, and next Star Wars instalment, would deliver "further value to shareholders."