Super Retail Group (Group), the Australia-based parent of sports and outdoor banners Rebel Sport, BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing), and Macpac, reported at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) its year-to-date (YTD) sales performance through Week 16 of the current fiscal year.

Interim CEO David Burns, appointed to take the reins from his position as chief financial officer, said the Group has delivered 2.6 percent like-for-like (comp, LFL) sales growth and 4.5 percent total sales growth in the first 16 weeks.

Super Retail Group reports in the Australian dollar (A$) currency. U.S. GAAP financial terms are defined in parentheses for each Australian term used, where helpful. All tables were created by SRG and the Australian dollar may be designated by “$” in the tables only.

Group like-for-like and total sales growth as at week 16 are as follows:

“Rebel’s performance continues to reflect variable demand patterns experienced calendar year-to-date, with softness in football and basketball categories offset by strong growth in footwear,” Burns noted. He said momentum has improved in October.

Burns added that performance in the BCF business was impacted by a softer Father’s Day campaign, adverse weather conditions in NSW (New South Wales), and the algae bloom in South Australia. Performance has reportedly been steadily improving in October ahead of the key summer trading period inthe southern hemisphere. It was also announced that Michael Wassman, BCF’s general manager of retail operations has been appointed as managing director of BCF.

“Macpac has enjoyed strong sales momentum, with double-digit like-for-like growth since the trading update in August, and a solid contribution from recently opened stores,” he also noted in his presentation.

“Whilst macro-economic conditions appear to be improving, the outlook for consumer spending remains uncertain,” Burns commented. “We expect consumers to continue to manage their spending carefully and prioritise value for money purchases.”

The interim CEO said the Group’s first half result will be highly dependent on trading in the peak Christmas trading period, with the company’s cyber sales event commencing in the coming weeks.

Burns reported that Group gross margin is “broadly stable” compared to the prior year results.

The CFO and interim CEO said the Group is entering FY26 in a strong financial position – with no drawn bank debt and a A$63 million cash balance.

Retail Crime Surges
In his comments to the shareholders, Burns called out one notable concern for management centered around the increase in retail crime during the year.

“With the health, safety and wellbeing of our team and customers our highest priority, it is unacceptable that retail workers across Australia are facing an escalating tide of abuse, threats and physical assaults,” he said. “These are not just statistics – they are our colleagues, friends, and family members who deserve to feel safe and respected at work.”

He went on to say that they are strengthening security measures to manage these risks by enhancing team member training and investing in a number of in-store initiatives such as new security gates, body worn cameras, enhanced CCTV monitoring, security tagging and various forms of securing high value inventory to fixtures or behind counters.

Images, data and tables courtesy Super Retail Group 

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