How electricals retailer Dixons Carphone swung to a £45m profit from a £86m loss

The firm posted a 16 per cent hike in like-for-like UK and Ireland electricals sales over the six months to October 31.

Online sales jumped 145 per cent, which offset the hit from temporary store closures due to Covid-19 restrictions.

On an underlying basis, group interim pre-tax profits rocketed to £89m from £2m a year earlier.

Alex Baldock, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said: "Our UK stores were closed for months, but our colleagues adapted fast, continuing to help millions of people enjoy the technology that's playing an ever-more vital role in their lives, and doing so safely.

"We've grown sales and profits, preserving our market leadership while accelerating our transformation in the UK, and continuing to power ahead internationally.

"We've achieved this performance by doing what we said we'd do. We're winning online, and have triple-digit growth and rapid market share gains to show for it.

"Still, most customers prefer to buy technology through a mix of online and in store, and we've innovated fast to bring the best of both digital and physical shopping to every customer. In particular, ShopLive 24/7 live video shopping points to a retail future where every customer online can get face-to-face advice from an expert store colleague.

"Meanwhile, we've continued to build lasting and valuable customer relationships."

He added: "We've also been responsible in our use of government support. We used the furlough scheme to preserve jobs in the first lockdown, and didn't use the scheme at all in the second.

"Meanwhile, leaders have taken salary cuts and waived bonuses, and we suspended the dividend.

"The outlook remains uncertain, and we're still nowhere near our full potential. Much hard work lies ahead. But this year has shown this business's qualities, especially the grit and skill of our colleagues.

"Our strategy has been stress-tested as never before, we've had one arm tied behind our back versus our competitors, and we've responded with stronger performance and an accelerating transformation."

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