TFG reports 4.6% rise in annual profit

Source: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko.

TFG, which also operates in Australia, said headline earnings per share rose to R10.15 in the year ended 31 March, up from 9.707 rand. Gross profit was up 6.7% to a record 28.8 billion rand ($1.62 billion).

TFG Africa's sales rose 7% in the second half after falling 0.1% in the first half. For the full year, sales rose by 3.7%.

Group online sales now contribute 12% of total sales, driven by the "continued success of our Bash platform, which has reached profitability two years ahead of schedule - a very likely unique achievement in the South African retail space," TFG CEO, Anthony Thunström said.

TFG's total group revenue rose by 4.1% to R62.6bn for the year, while retail sales increased 3.6%, boosted by 8.7% sales growth in the second half after a 2% contraction in the first half, supported by store expansions across all territories and the acquisition of fashion and lifestyle retailer White Stuff in the UK.

In Britain, TFG's annual sales rose by 16.4% in pounds, following the acquisition, while TFG Australia continued to face difficult trading conditions, with sustained high inflation and interest rates impacting the consumer.

The retailer declared a final dividend of 230 cents per share.