SPORTS, CAMPING BOOST SUPER RETAIL SALES
SUPER Retail, which owns Macpac, Rebel and Supercheap Auto, is reaping the benefits of a return to the great outdoors, camping and sporting hobbies after the end of lockdowns with all its businesses booking sales growth for the first 16 weeks of the 2023 fiscal year.
The strength of the nation’s leading sporting codes of AFL and NRL this year helped drive a rebound in licenced apparel and sports gear sales for Rebel. The group also reported that people enjoying camping and fishing delivered a boost to Macpac and BCF, and car owners conducting maintenance on their vehicles lifted the performance at Supercheap Auto.
However, it said rising mortgage rates eventually would lower consumer spending.
In a trading update at its annual meeting on Thursday, Super Retail said all its retail arms – Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF and Macpac – posted sales growth for the first 16 weeks of fiscal 2023, with all except BCF hitting double-digit sales growth.
The robust year-to-date sales performance was led by Macpac, its camping and outdoors specialist retailer, with its like-for-like sales up 76 per cent. Supercheap sales were up 23 per cent, Rebel up 20 per cent and BCF sales up 4 per cent for the period.
CEO Anthony Heraghty said he was pleased the company had maintained strong trading momentum.
“Supercheap Auto has continued to trade well, supported by our store refurbishment program, with auto maintenance the best performing category,” he said.
Mr Heraghty said group gross margin percentage in the first 16 weeks were in line with gross margin percentage delivered in the prior comparative period. But higher mortgage rates and the soaring cost of living would dent consumer spending.
Super Retail shares rose 2.7 per cent to $9.99.