Pentland Group Reports 2014 Revenues Grew 14 Percent

Pentland Group plc, the UK-based brand management and retail group, reported total revenue increase 14 percent to £2.2 billion in calendar 2014.

Revenue from Pentland Brands, which includes increased 5 percent to £618 million, lead by record revenues from Speedo. Pentland Brands also includes Berghaus (outdoor) and Canterbury (rugby), Ellesse (tennis), KangaRoos (athletic footwear)  and Mitre (soccer).

Revenues from the Retail Division, comprising JD Sports Fashion plc, reached a record £1.6 billion, up 19 percent due mainly to growth at its core Sports banners.

Group operating profit, before tax, amortisation of intangibles and exceptional items, up 30 percent to £160 million. Group profit before taxes surged 92 percent to £164 million. The Group ended the year with net cash of £202 million, compared with  £119 million in 2013.

Pentland Brands

Pentland Brands continued to perform strongly with revenue up 5 percent. The continued development of a global presence has helped achieve record performances for a number of its brands.

Speedo achieved record sales for the second year in a row with growth in many international markets. The sales growth was driven by the highly successful SpeedoFit and global swimwear ranges.  Speedo was also named ‘Fan Brand of the Year’ at the 2014 Sports Technology Awards.

Canterbury, now fully integrated into the Pentland Brands portfolio following its acquisition in September 2012, achieved strong sales growth with a double-digit uplift in the United Kingdom. Canterbury became the official kit supplier for the Ireland Rugby Football Union in 2014 and will be the official kit supplier for the England and Ireland teams at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The brand continued to build its on-field presence in Australia and New Zealand through Australia’s State of Origin and Auckland National Rugby League team, the New Zealand Warriors.

Ted Baker footwear had another record sales year delivering double digit growth with strong performance in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Ted Baker and Kickers were recently acknowledged at the Drapers Footwear Awards with Ted Baker winning the Men’s Fashion Footwear Brand of the Year and International Footwear Business of the Year and Kickers Kids’ Footwear Brand of the Year.

Lacoste Chaussures enjoyed another year of strong sales with growth in major markets including the United States  and China.

Three Berghaus innovations won awards at the 2014 OutDoor Industry Awards including the coveted Gold Award for the Hypersmock 2.0 – the world’s lightest waterproof jacket.

Retail Division

JD Sports Fashion plc produced a record result in a challenging retail environment.  This has been driven in particular by strong trading in its core Sports banners.  

The Outdoor group consisting of Blacks and Millets continues to undergo significant change under JD’s ownership which has created a strong platform for growth and development in 2015.

In 2014, JD continued to invest through the acquisition of various brands/businesses such as Mainline Menswear, Ultimate Outdoors and Oswald Bailey.  In November it disposed of Bank, the loss making fashion chain.