The Forzani Group Ltd. reported that total sales for the ten week Holiday period increased 21.3% versus the same period in 2006. Sales were buoyed by the acquired Athlete's World business as, without those sales, total retail system sales were up 14.3%. On a same-store basis, total retail system sales increased 11.1%. The company attributed the comps improvement to consumers responding positively to the more aggressive promotions in place throughout the quarter. Corporate same store sales increased 7.4% while the franchise division retail same store sales were up 18.5%.
Corporate store margin rates softened versus the prior year, but same store margin dollars continued to track ahead of the prior year. The company's inventory position was said to be very clean as a result of the strong overall sales generated quarter-to-date.
