Trading Statement
Q3 FY16 financial summary
· Like-for-like sales (LFL) growth of 2.2%*
o Merchandise LFL growth of 1.7%*, with strength in Advanced Nutrition, omnichannel and recovering sales in Health & Hygiene
o Services LFL growth of 8.5%*, driven by strong performance in vet and grooming services
· Total revenue growth of 7.1% to £195.1m
o Merchandise revenues up 5.4% to £177.3m
o Services revenues up 27.4% to £17.8m, with fee income from Joint Venture veterinary practices up 16.3% to £7.5m
· Financial outlook for FY16 remains in line with current expectations
*Q3 FY16 benefits from one fewer bank holiday than the prior year, closing on New Years Eve, compared with Q3 FY15 which closed on New Years Day when the majority of stores are closed. Our LFL growth calculation removes this benefit and compares the 12 weeks from 9 Oct 2015 to 31 Dec 2015, with the 12 weeks from 9 Oct 2014 to 31 Dec 2014
Q3 FY16 operational summary
· Store and services openings
o 7 Pets at Home superstores
o One Barkers store in Sevenoaks, Kent
o Launch of a trial format in Dorking, branded 'Whiskers 'n Paws by Pets at Home.' A local High Street store focused on dog and cat owners, with a Groom Room salon
o 15 grooming salons and 6 veterinary practices
o On track to deliver FY16 rollout targets: 20-25 Pets at Home stores, 5 Barkers, 50-55 vet practices and 55-60 grooming salons
· VIP club
o Total members of 4.2m, an increase of over 250,000 since Q2 FY16
o Card swipe rate at store tills 64% of revenues, compared with 61% in the prior year
· Post period end, acquired Anderson Moores, a specialist veterinary referral hospital based in Winchester, Hampshire. Anderson Moores will operate as a standalone brand in the Vet Group, as a shared venture model through which the existing shareholders retain significant equity ownership