Burberry scent bucks half year trend
Fashion brand Burberry kept up its recent strong sales performance today as it hailed the success of new fragrance Burberry Brit for men.
The rejuvenated group said the product had contributed to a 31% rise in licensing revenues as overall sales lifted 14% on a constant currency basis to £367m (€533m) in the six months to September 30.
The improvement – 8% higher on a reported basis – came despite a “subdued” half year in the UK retail market and tough conditions in the United States.
Stronger sales growth in continental Europe and Hong Kong offset that weakness as retail sales – helped by the opening of new stores – pushed ahead by 12% on an underlying basis and by 4% at a reported level.
Chief executive Rose Marie Bravo put the group’s performance, which was in line with expectations, down to a “balanced strategy by product, channel and region”.
She added: “We were particularly encouraged by the 31% gain in our licensing channel, partially driven by the highly successful launch of Burberry Brit for men.”
