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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| M&S chief hails sales 'recovery' | M&S chief hails sales 'recovery' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Marks and Spencer's boss Stuart Rose has at last acknowledged a "recovery" at the iconic chain after a sales surge in the lead up to Christmas. | Marks and Spencer's boss Stuart Rose has at last acknowledged a "recovery" at the iconic chain after a sales surge in the lead up to Christmas. |
| The retailer said like-for-like sales - which ignore sales at new stores - in the October to December period were up 5.6% on the same period a year ago. | The retailer said like-for-like sales - which ignore sales at new stores - in the October to December period were up 5.6% on the same period a year ago. |
| M&S, which is the UK's biggest seller of womenswear, has now snared a 10.5% share of the UK clothes market. | M&S, which is the UK's biggest seller of womenswear, has now snared a 10.5% share of the UK clothes market. |
| Mr Rose had until now refused to use what he calls "the R-word". | Mr Rose had until now refused to use what he calls "the R-word". |
| But the M&S chief executive said: "We have now delivered growth on growth in all areas of our business, thus completing the first part of our recovery plan." | But the M&S chief executive said: "We have now delivered growth on growth in all areas of our business, thus completing the first part of our recovery plan." |
| Model performance | Model performance |
| Demand for its food grew 3.6% on the same period a year ago, buoyed by a well-received advertising campaign with the voice-over "this is not just food, this is M&S food". | Demand for its food grew 3.6% on the same period a year ago, buoyed by a well-received advertising campaign with the voice-over "this is not just food, this is M&S food". |
| M&S had a good Christmas Stuart Rose, M&S chief executive href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5180&edition=1" class="">Send us your comments | |
| Much of M&S's recent success has been put down to its award-winning womenswear adverts, which feature 1960s fashion icon Twiggy and Elizabeth Jagger - daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. | Much of M&S's recent success has been put down to its award-winning womenswear adverts, which feature 1960s fashion icon Twiggy and Elizabeth Jagger - daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. |
| Like-for-like sales in general merchandise, which includes clothes, were up 7.1% in the three-month period. | Like-for-like sales in general merchandise, which includes clothes, were up 7.1% in the three-month period. |
| When new and expanded stores are considered, total sales growth was 9.2%. | When new and expanded stores are considered, total sales growth was 9.2%. |
| M&S said its website attracted nine million customers in the period, with internet sales up 70%. | M&S said its website attracted nine million customers in the period, with internet sales up 70%. |
| Overall third quarter growth was slower than the first and second quarters and Mr Rose said that the tough trading environment showed no sign of easing. | Overall third quarter growth was slower than the first and second quarters and Mr Rose said that the tough trading environment showed no sign of easing. |
| "M&S had a good Christmas," he said. "In the fourth quarter, we come up against significantly tougher comparatives, whilst facing a more challenging retail environment." | "M&S had a good Christmas," he said. "In the fourth quarter, we come up against significantly tougher comparatives, whilst facing a more challenging retail environment." |
| He told the BBC that he was a "bit worried" about overall High Street spending in the spring. | He told the BBC that he was a "bit worried" about overall High Street spending in the spring. |
| "Customers are tightening their belts," he said. | "Customers are tightening their belts," he said. |