Dunelm has told shareholders it expects profits to be up to £24m more than previously forecast thanks to a surge in sales.
Sales in the seven weeks since 28 March are 59% higher than in 2019.
‘Sales growth has been very strong since the majority of our stores re-opened on 12 April and we continue to see good digital growth from our home delivery and Click & Collect channels. This high sales growth reflects the strength of our customer proposition and a variety of other factors including pent up demand following the extended store closure period, a buoyant homewares market and some benefit from the unseasonably cold Spring weather. In the five weeks since our stores re-opened, we have performed significantly ahead of the market,’ it says.
‘As a result of this recent performance, the board expects full year profit before tax will be significantly ahead of the latest range of analysts’ expectations [of £128m – £134m]. Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the short-term outlook, we anticipate FY21 PBT will be in excess of £148m.’
