Blacks Leisure Group total group retail sales
rose 2.7% in the first half. On a comparable
store basis, sales declined 0.4% for the half
after decreasing 4.4% last year. The company
now expects net income to be approximately
flat to last year for the first half. For the second
half, management expects net income to
be “in line with the second half last year.”

Comps at the Blacks chain rose 4.1% with
gross margin increasing as well. Freespirit and
ONeill combined saw comps increase 3.5%,
also with increased gross margins. Millets like-for-
like sales declined 5.6%.