Halfords pumped up as Britons stay at home

0 The car parts and bicycle retailer, which is a sponsor of BTCC racing, saw sales motor ahead Halfords has notched up a hike in sales thanks to surging demand for roof boxes and camping gear as more Britons chose to “staycation” in the UK.

The group said like-for-like retail sales rose 3.5 per cent in the 20 weeks to 18 August, with motoring sales lifting 2.3 per cent.

Halfords saw travel solutions sales jump 8.2 per cent higher, driven by the rising popularity of holidaying in the UK in the face of poor exchange rates from the Brexit-hit pound.

It also reported strong demand for bikes, with sales up 5.2 per cent and electric bikes and repair services seeing strong performances.

Outgoing chief executive Jill Mcdonald, who is leaving next month to head up Marks & Spencer’s fashion and homewares arm, said: “A combination of good planning and execution meant that we optimised sales from the staycation summer, with strong growth in camping, roof boxes and cycle carriers.”

Like-for-like sales dipped at its autocentres service arm.