Carpetright targets US investors
EXECUTIVES at Carpetright were preparing to woo potential investors in the US after its profile in America received a lift. The Essex-based company is responding to increased interest following its inclusion by a US magazine in a list of the world's top 200 small companies.
Chief executive and chairman Lord Harris of Peckham will join finance director Shena Winning on a four day trip to meet financial institutions in Chicago, Denver and New York.
Carpetright, which has more than 300 stores, said it would offer an introduction to its business and talk through its most recent results.
In December the group announced for the six months to 27 October, like-for-like sales increased by 8.8%, while pre-tax profits gained 17% to £22.3m.
The company also said that the second half had started strongly, with like-for-like sales up 9% and gross margins better than last year.
Today, Carpetright said that progress had continued into the New Year as both sales and gross margins were in line with market expectations. It added its store opening programme was also on track, with 11 new outlets and 15 refurbishments undertaken since the end of October. The company operates as Carpetwise in Scotland.
