TOP NEWS: AB Foods Estimates GBP1.1 Billion Primark Loss Due To Covid

(Alliance News) - Associated British Foods PLC on Thursday said it expects a substantial fall in ...

Alliance News 25 February, 2021 | 9:03AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - Associated British Foods PLC on Thursday said it expects a substantial fall in half-year sales for fashion retailer Primark given coronavirus restrictions during the period.

The FTSE 100-listed food processing & retailing company said Primark's sales for the 24 weeks to February 27 are estimated to be around GBP2.2 billion, down sharply on GBP3.7 billion a year ago. AB Foods noted that the majority of Primark stores were closed during November and from the end of December, estimating the loss of sales while stores were closed to be around GBP1.1 billion.

"When stores were open, trading continued to be strong, with sales at minus 15% on a like-for-like basis compared to last year. This performance should be seen in the context of lower category spend and lower footfall reflecting government advice to limit journeys from home," the company said.

Primark's adjusted operating profit for the half-year should be "marginally above break-even", compared to a profit of GBP441 million a year ago.

"Our estimate for the sales which will be lost during the second half of our financial year in respect of the remaining periods of store closures is some GBP480 million, with a loss of contribution, after cost mitigation, of GBP170 million," the company added.

AB Foods noted that other segments fared better in the period. The company said it expects revenue and profit in each of its Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture and Ingredients businesses to be ahead of both expectations and the first half of last year, due to an increased demand for baking ingredients in many countries.

However, as a consequence of the restrictions placed on Primark, AB Food expects half-year sales, adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the group to be lower than last year.

Following the UK government announcement on Monday that all retailers are likely to reopen on April 12, AB Foods said 83% of its retail space should be open and trading by April 26.

It also saw no material disruption to its supply chains as a result of the end of the Brexit transition period.

Shares in AB Foods were up 0.7% at 2,455.00 pence in London on Thursday morning.

By Zoe Wickens; zoewickens@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Associated British Foods PLC 2,656.00 GBX -1.12

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures