Dixons gave further evidence today that it is fending off the e-tailers, with rising sales on the back of a busy summer of sport.
New chief executive Sebastian James says the company sold five times more 55-inch TVs this year than it did last as families boosted their home entertainment kit to better enjoy the Olympics.
With rivals such as Best Buy quitting the UK and Comet struggling, the City increasingly thinks Dixons will emerge as the winner in the sector, indeed perhaps as the last man standing in the electrical retail space.
In the 12 weeks to July 21, sales in the UK and Ireland were up 7%. They fell 10% in southern Europe, which James says is not likely to improve any time soon.
He hopes the arrival of Windows 8 in October will boost sales in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.
Philip Dorgan at Panmure Gordon said in a note: “Dixons operates in a tough space, but we expect it to continue to be the strongest multi-channel operator.”
