World Cup TV sales help Kesa Electricals

Comet owner Kesa saw bumper sales of big TVs and home cinema systems in the run up to the World Cup, but today warned that the outlook for the next nine months of its financial year could be tough.

"After a positive first quarter we still anticipate that our markets will remain challenging for the remainder of this financial year," said chief executive Thierry Falque-Pierrotin.

He said TV sales had been excellent both at Comet and its French sister company Darty, but margins were down almost 1.8% in the UK as retailers battled for World Cup sales.

Same-store sales rose 4.3% across the group in the three months to end-July. That was better than the fall in sales seen last year and beat City forecasts.

Kesa shares edged up 1%.

The revamp of Comet stores, which is adding more space for laptop computers and digital cameras as well as multi-media products, is gathering pace.
Nine were completed in the first quarter with another 30 to be made over before Christmas.

Online sales rose 13% to make up 14% of all Comet sales.