International sales soar 20.2%, although UK market was described as ‘challenging’.
Homewares and fashion brand Cath Kidston has seen its popularity soar overseas over the past year.
International sales grew 20.2% to £55.3 million in the year ending March, helping group sales to rise 2.4% to £118.5 million.
However, the UK market was described as ‘challenging’ after sales fell by 3%.
Japan is now the biggest market after the UK for the lifestyle brand – it has 123 stores across Asia.
Cath Kidston open 45 stores during the year, and this rapid expansion means it now has 205 stores in total. The majority of these – 135 – are overseas.
During the year, Cath Kidston also put money into a new distribution centre in Asia, as well as expanding in the Middle East. It also bought 27 of its Japanese stores from its franchise partner.
The investments did push underlying profits down by 36% to £16 million, compared with £25 million for the same period a year ago.
