European discount retailer Pepco Group has reported a 22.8% increase in first-half revenue, driven by strong demand for its value offers from cash-strapped shoppers and the opening of 166 new stores.
The Warsaw-listed group said revenue stood at €2.84 billion for the six months to March 31. Like-for-like sales were up 11.1% in the first half and up 8.5% in the second quarter.
Full-Year 'On Track'
The owner of the Pepco, Poundland and Dealz brands said it remained on track to deliver full-year core earnings growth in the "mid-teens".
European consumers have been pressured for more than a year by high inflation that has outstripped pay growth.
In economic downturns, discount operators tend to do relatively better than mainstream peers, as they have lower cost bases and shoppers become more price sensitive.
'The macro environment the group faces is more balanced now than in the past 18 months with product input costs starting to ease, though headwinds remain on other costs, including energy,' Pepco said, noting an improving margin outlook in the second half.
Italian Landmark
Earlier this month, Pepco announced the opening of its 100th outlet in Italy, following a recent expansion drive in the country. The new store is located at the Parco Da Vinci Shopping Centre in Rome.
The pan-European variety discount retailer operates more than 3,000 stores, spanning Estonia in northern Europe to Italy in the south, and from Spain in the west to Bulgaria in eastern Europe.
Read More: Pepco Group Sees Annual Profit Jump 14.3% On Store Expansion
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