Comet firm eyes World Cup boost

It is expecting demand will be helped by an easier timezone difference for viewers of this year's football tournament, which is being held in South Africa.

The group's 2010 comments came as it reported on festive trading, revealing a 3.9 per cent drop in same store sales across Comet as it suffered against stronger trading comparatives last year.

Comet has also been impacted by the adverse weather, while it is facing competition from a resurgent DSG International, the owner of Currys and PC World.

The Comet sales fall marks a reversal of the two per cent growth seen in the first half, but had been expected in the City after the chain outperformed the market a year earlier thanks to a last minute Christmas rush.

Kesa also saw its overall performance in the period between November 1 and January 8 lifted by growth in its international businesses, with the decline in comparable group sales limited to 0.3 per cent.

Darty in France notched up a 3.6 per cent rise in like-for-like sales, while Kesa's developing operations across Italy, Turkey and Spain reported a 7.8 per cent hike.

Thierry Falque-Pierrotin, chief executive of Kesa, said: "We were well prepared for our peak trading season and saw improving sales trends in most of our businesses.

"I am particularly pleased with the performance at Darty France and the progress we are making in our developing businesses."

Top sellers over the festive season included TVs, digital cameras and coffee machines.

Profit margins in the UK were down around 0.5 per cent, due to the product mix.

But Mr Falque-Pierrotin said the UK had enjoyed a better-than-expected electricals market over 2009, thanks in part to the temporary VAT reduction.

The group's rival DSG International has seen a marked turnaround in fortunes in recent months, reporting an eight per cent surge in UK and Ireland electricals sales over the peak Christmas quarter.