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M&S sales lifted by food business M&S clothing sales continue to fall
(35 minutes later)
Marks and Spencer has reported a 0.3% rise in underlying sales for the latest quarter, as strong food sales offset a fall in clothing sales. Marks and Spencer has reported a 0.3% rise in underlying UK sales for the latest quarter, as strong food sales offset a fall in clothing sales.
UK like-for-like sales rose 1.8% at its food business, but general merchandise - which includes clothing, footwear and homewares - fell 1.6%.UK like-for-like sales rose 1.8% at its food business, but general merchandise - which includes clothing, footwear and homewares - fell 1.6%.
Chief executive Mark Bolland said that food had "delivered another excellent performance". It is the eighth consecutive quarter of falling sales for general merchandise.
M&S said it remained cautious about the outlook. However, chief executive Mark Bolland said general merchandise had shown "some improvement this quarter".
International sales rose 8.7%, although the problems in the eurozone affected sales in some areas. He has recently revamped the clothing division to try to boost flagging sales.
The company holds its annual meeting later on Tuesday. Last year, M&S changed its retail team, bringing in Belinda Earl, a former chief executive of both Debenhams and Jaeger, as head of style.
"Clothing is the bedrock of the business, particularly womenswear," Bryan Roberts, retail analyst at Kantar retail told the BBC's Today programme. "Without it, the business will struggle".
"It's one thing to impress fashion journalists and City types, but another thing to impress young families and grandparents, the broader audience that M&S is trying to appeal to."
"If it comes to Christmas and clothing still hasn't recovered, the knives might come out for Mr Bolland."
The company said that, given challenging trading conditions, it remained cautious about the outlook.
International sales rose 8.7% in the 13 weeks to 29 June. The problems in the eurozone affected sales in some areas but the company said its performance in this region had started to stabilise.
The company holds its annual meeting at Wembley Stadium later on Tuesday.