Country Road: Interim total sales up 27%

Woolworths subsidiary Country Road, which is listed on Australia’s stock exchange, increased total sales by 27.4 percent to A$422 million (R4.1 billion) in the six months to December. Comparable sales growth was 6.6 percent. It increased earnings a share by 42.5 percent to 36.64c. Country Road said yesterday that the good performance was helped by the acquisition of Witchery and Mimco last year. South African sales rose 15 percent, with comparable sales growth of 13.6 percent. Woolworths shares rose 0.48 percent to close at R60.79 on the JSE. – Nompumelelo Magwaza