Carpet and floor coverings retailer reveals encouraging results, with first like-for-like sales growth in a quarter for more than a year.
Carpetright's interim management statement for the 13 weeks ended August 1, 2009 today revealed that group sales increased by 7.5%.

The company's UK and Ireland business recorded a sales increase of 6.6%, with like-for-like (lfl) sales up 1.4% - the first quarter of (lfl) sales growth since Q4 2007/2008.

The flooring chain opened 14 stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, taking the total to 581.

In the rest of Europe, Carpetright's sales improved 0.9%, with lfl sales down 2.8%.

Carpetright chairman and chef executive Lord Harris of Peckham said: "We have continued to perform well in a tough trading environment and the sales achieved I the first quarter have provided an encouraging start to the financial year."

He added: "By successfully leveraging our operational efficiencies and economies of scale, we have he ability to react decisively as opportunities arise. The recent announcement of the proposed closure of 150 Allied Carpet stores is one such opportunity."