Mothercare has reported a loss in its financial year to date, as store closures affected its trading amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the first 28 weeks of the current financial year, the maternity goods retailer saw sales decline by 39 per cent to £145 million.
Mothercare said the losses caused by store closures during the coronavirus lockdowns were only partially offset by the performance in those countries in which it was able to continue to trade via its online channels.
Mothercare, which continues to trade online and through overseas stores, last year put its UK stores into administration with all 79 shops closing and 2500 jobs lost.
As of September 23, 2020, the group’s total secured debt was £15 million while more money is expected from the administrators of its UK arm.
In the year to March 28, 2020, total group revenue slid by 18 per cent to £164 million while the previous year £2 million adjusted profit before tax turned into a £5 million loss.
However, Mothercare swung to a total profit of £14.4 million during the period from a loss of £97 million in the previous year.