Joy as sales at Leekes up 20pc
Leekes today announced its Midlands stores, including the former Coles in Bilston, have bucked the gloomy retail trend by piling on 20 per cent more sales.
The Bilston store alone increased its sales figures by 50 per cent, and the three Midland stores helped buoy up the retail arm of the Leekes Retail and Leisure Group.
But figures showed that a slow-down in its property development arm dragged overall post-tax profits down by £700,000 to £1.6 million in the trading year to the end of March.
Leekes has high hopes that the second half will continue to build on significant growth in overall profits seen in the first six months that ended in September.
The Bilston store, which employs 45 people, has also seen £250,000 invested in a new paint, wallpaper and decorating department. The chain opened a 180,000 sq ft branch in Coventry in September.
