In a trading update released on Tuesday, Marks & Spencer once again highlighted the strength of its clothing and home divisions, with womenswear continuing to shine. For the 13 weeks leading up to April 2, M&S posted a 10.5% increase in clothing and home sales on a like-for-like basis. In contrast, its food division saw a modest 0.2% decline in comparable sales..
The solid performance in clothing and home was driven by sales of jackets, knitwear, and dresses, as well as ongoing demand for homeware. However, the company did note that the recent warm weather in the UK had a negative impact on sales of cold weather apparel..
Womenswear continues to be a key growth area for M&S, reporting a 14.1% increase in like-for-like sales. The retailer attributed this success to its focus on key seasonal trends, as well as the continued strength of its Per Una label. On the other hand, menswear saw a more modest increase of 4.1% due to the unseasonably warm weather and ongoing challenges in the menswear market..
The impact of the ongoing pandemic continued to be felt across M&S’s operations. The retailer implemented a number of safety measures to protect both customers and employees, which resulted in additional costs. Additionally, M&S continues to face the challenge of store closures, with 87 stores permanently shuttered since the start of the pandemic..
Despite these challenges, M&S CEO Steve Rowe expressed confidence in the company’s future, stating that the trading update .
