Kesa looking for World Cup TV boost

Europe's third-biggest electrical good retailer expects demand will be helped by an easier timezone difference for viewers of this summer's football tournament, being held in South Africa.

"What is very important is with the World Cup being in South Africa there's be no (significant) time difference, which means that more people are going to watch the matches more," said chief executive Thierry Falque-Pierrotin.

The group, which also trades as Darty in France, reported a forecast-beating Christmas, with like-for-like sales falling 0.3 per cent in the 10 weeks to January 8. That demand was driven by strong demand for TVs, laptops, digital cameras and coffee machines. Analysts had been expecting a fall of 4.5 per cent.

But the UK's second-biggest electrical goods retailer, which has 22 Comet stores in Yorkshire, said sales at Comet stores open more than a year fell by 3.9 per cent, because of a tough comparative period a year earlier.

"We were well prepared for our peak trading season and saw improving sales trends in most of our businesses," said Mr Falque-Pierrotin. markets."

Its overall internet sales increased by almost 20 per cent.