With a solid performance from its travel category, WH Smith has seen its full year pre-tax profit grow 8% to £131 million.
Figures show that group like-for-like sales moved up 1%, whilst total group sales rose 3% to £1.212 billion.
Other figures show that its travel business increased its total sales 10%, whilst like-for-like sales rose 4%. Trading profit climbed by 9% to £87 million, including £7 million from WH Smith’s growing international channel.
WH Smith group chief executive, Stephen Clarke, said: "We have delivered a good performance across the group with earnings up 10%.
"Our travel business continues to perform well with strong sales across all channels and profit up 9%. We have further extended our food to go ranges and during the year we sold over ten million 'meal deals'.”
The company also reported that its trading profit in its high street business increased 5% to £62 million, in comparison to the previous year where sales were down 3%.
Mr Clarke added: "In the high street business, our profit focused strategy continues to deliver sustainable growth with profit up 5%. Stationery sales have been strong in the year and in books we are delighted with the success of the Zoella Book Club which launched during the summer.”
During the year, the company opened 18 new travel units, now making the total 576 units and has won another 32 units in its international channel, taking that number to 232 units. "Looking ahead to the overall group performance, Clarke said: “We will continue to focus on profitable growth, cash generation and investing in new opportunities. While the economic environment is uncertain, we are well positioned for the current year and beyond."
