Retail Week looks ahead to the next seven days, with financial updates from Primark, Debenhams, Burberry and Zalando all on the agenda.
L’Oreal
The Body Shop owner posts its first-quarter results on Tuesday April 18.
In February, the beauty giant confirmed that it was considering a sale of the ethical beauty retailer after it recorded a 38% slump in full-year profits.
Since then the retailer, which appointed Linda Campbell as its UK boss in January, has received interest from prospective bidders including CJ Group and private equity firms Apax Partners and Advent International.
The cosmetic group’s first-quarter results could provide an update on the potential new owner of the beleagured beauty retailer.
Associated British Foods (ABF)
The Primark owner unveils its half-year results on Wednesday April 19.
In February, ABF said it expects to post a jump in total sales and like-for-likes in the UK following a “very strong” store-opening programme.
Primark forecast an 11% spike in total sales in constant currencies in the six months to March 4, 2017.
However, ABF warned that Primark’s operating margins will decline, pushed down by the fall in the value of the pound and the strength of the dollar, which have driven a surge in input costs.
Burberry
The luxury fashion retailer will update the market with details of trading performance during the second half of its financial year on Wednesday April 19.
Burberry’s like-for-like sales were flat during its first half, to September 30, but revenues from its retail arm grew 2% on an underlying basis at £859m.
But group like-for-likes increased 3% in the golden quarter, driven by a 40% like-for-like surge in the UK.
Burberry reveals its full-year results on Thursday May 18.
Zalando
The German fashion etailer posts details of its first-quarter trading performance on Wednesday April 19.
Zalando will be hoping to continue momentum from 2016, when adjusted EBIT doubled to €216m (£174m), compared with €107.5m the previous year.
Sales also surged 23% to €3.64bn amid “a systematic focus on consumers and suppliers”, which helped customer numbers grow 11% to 20 million.
Debenhams
The department store business reveals its interim results on Thursday April 20, when the eyes of the City will be fixed on new boss Sergio Bucher as he unveils his strategy.
Debenhams’ pre-tax profits edged up 0.5% to £114.1m in the 52 weeks to August 27, as like-for-like sales remained broadly flat at 0.6%, but Bucher will want to get those numbers moving more briskly in the right direction.
Since the year end, Bucher has bolstered the Debenhams board by drafting in Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird as a non-executive director and discontinued its partnership with Betty Jackson, as he begins to put his mark on the business.
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