The UK’s largest franchised off-licence and convenience chain, Conviviality Retail has announced its annual results for the 52 week period ended 26 April 2015.
Revenue increased 2.4% to £364.1m (2014: £355.7m), and EBITDA (excluding exceptional items) increased 3.5% to £12.9m (2014: £12.4m).
Group profit before tax and exceptional items increased by 4.4% to £9.7m (2014: £9.3 million), and like for like sales decreased by 1.7%
Underlying retail sales per store were up by 0.5% year-on-year .
Gross profit margin increased to 10.2% (2014: 9.2%), and profit after tax (pre exceptional items) increased 8.9% to £7.8m (2014: £7.2m)
In the period, 21 existing franchisees opened additional stores, and 35 new franchisees joined the group.
The group's store portfolio increased by 29 (4.9%) to 624.
Conviviality acquired 31 Rhythm and Booze stores and 37 GT News stores of which 42 have now been franchised.
The firm launched its mobile app which generated over 30,000 downloads. It also successfully trialled Click and Collect across 66 stores.
Diana Hunter, CEO said, 'This is a strong set of results reflecting the hard work of our employees, franchisees and suppliers. Franchisees will remain at the heart of our business, as we continue to work together to blend the entrepreneurial skill of the Franchisee with the branding, ranging and wholesale expertise of Conviviality.
'Looking forward we will continue to help more of our Franchisees grow their existing business while also working to attract new Franchisees to the Group. The Board looks to the future with confidence.'