Lush reports 9.1% rise in like-for-like sales

UK-based ethical beauty retailer Lush has reported 9.1% rise in like-for-like sales last year. Its sales and pre-tax profits both increased 8%, after generating turnover of $698 million with a pre-tax profit of $36 million for the year ending June 30. The profit figure was calculated after giving $6 million to charities, with donations given out by Lush going up 31% compared to last year.

Lush witnessed sales growth after expanding into emerging markets opening new stores in Hong Kong, the Middle East and Brazil. It also continued its aggressive expansion in the US, where it opened 25 shops, taking its portfolio in the country to 153 shops. The retailer’s online revenues were also boosted by a Christmas sales surge, which saw like-for-likes spike 49% in the final quarter.

In 2014 Lush focused on seeking sites in prime locations with higher turnover potential, making strategic relocations and closing loss-making shops. It opened 66 new stores and closed 62 loss-making sites last year, with the current portfolio including 105 stores in the UK and 898 stores in 49 countries around the world.