TOPPS TILES PLC

Earnings Release • Jul 1, 2020

National Storage Mechanism | Additional information

RNS Number : 6010R

Topps Tiles PLC

01 July 2020

1 July 2020

Topps Tiles Plc

Q3 Trading Update

Trading

Topps Tiles Plc (the "Group"), the UK's leading tile specialist, announces a trading update for the 13 week period ended 27 June 2020.

Retail trading over the third quarter improved significantly as stores re-opened, with average sales per week growing from £0.8 million during April (when all stores were closed) to £3.9 million in the final week of June when all stores were trading, which was 5.4% below the same week in the prior year on a like for like basis.  The Board is pleased by this performance, which was ahead of its revised expectations following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Average Weekly Sales

	April	May	June	Q3
FY 2020	£0.8m	£1.3m	£3.3m	£1.9m
FY 2019	£4.0m	£4.2m	£4.1m	£4.1m
YoY%	(80)%	(69)%	(20)%	(53)%

Third Quarter Highlights

Retail • Majority of stores opened from end of May with enhanced health and safety protocols in place to safeguard colleagues and customers • Social distancing measures in stores not a significant constraint on trade due to relatively low customer footfall and availability of space in stores to browse • Retail performance in the third quarter ahead of revised expectations due to accelerated pace of store re-openings and better than expected customer demand • Retail website has performed robustly with sales across the quarter 139% ahead of the prior year, leveraging the Group's recent investment in its online platform Commercial • Commercial sales for the quarter were £1.4 million, which was 16% below the prior year and 39% below the previous quarter • Activity levels across June have increased steadily as the construction industry has returned to work Cash, Debt & Liquidity • Sale and leaseback - central office and warehouse facility disposed of during the period for £18.1 million, further strengthening Group liquidity • Encouraged by overall Q3 liquidity, with rate of sales recovery and cash performance ahead of initial expectations • Period end net cash of £3.9 million and available cash headroom of £52.9 million (including conclusion of additional CLBILS £10 million loan facility in the period)

Rob Parker, Chief Executive, said: "I am pleased with the resilience shown by the business through this period and I would like to thank colleagues across the Group for their hard work and dedication which ensured that, by the end of June, all Topps stores were back open and serving our customers safely.

"The Group has demonstrated its resilience, with revenues ahead of our expectations, and we have strengthened our financial liquidity through the sale and leaseback of our central warehouse and head office facility.

"Looking ahead, from our market leading position and with a firm financial footing, Topps is well-positioned as the economy begins to recover."   

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Enquiries:

Topps Tiles Plc	0116 282 8000
Rob Parker, Chief Executive Officer
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Kevin Smith	020 3926 8509
Nick Hayns	020 3926 8503

Note to editors

Topps Tiles Plc is the UK's largest specialist supplier of tiles and associated products, targeting the UK domestic refurbishment and commercial market and serving a retail and trade customer base from 356 nationwide retail stores and four commercial showrooms.

Since opening its first store in 1963, Topps has maintained a simple operating philosophy - inspiring customers with unrivalled product choice and providing exceptional levels of customer service.

For further information, please visit http://www.toppstilesplc.com/

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