The British baby products retailer Mothercare has issued a profit warning after a tough Christmas trading period in Britain and international market sales being weaker than the company had expected.
Mothercare reported like-for-like sales for stores that had been open for a year or more had declined 4.4%, as weaker footfall and a higher promotional activity led to lower sales and margins.
Total worldwide group sales fell 6.1% in the 12 weeks to 4 January, with UK like-for-like sales down 4%.
Chief executive Simon Calver said "difficult" trading conditions in the UK and volatility in international markets had been behind the sales fall and full year profits were "likely to be below the current range of market expectations".
He also added that in some of its larger markets such as Russia and the Middle East it had also experienced some unseasonal weather which had impacted on sales.
Mothercare has branches in 60 countries but as part of its restructuring programme has recently shut 63 in the UK.
