WH Smith bucks the trend and expands

WH Smith has shrugged off some of the gloom in the retail sector by announcing it is to expand in its fast-growing travel outlets.

WH Smith focuses mainly on its high street shops on traditional newsagents’ fare such as magazines, newspapers, stationery and books. However, it already has 433 outlets in airports, motorway service stations and railway stations.

The retailer has signed a deal to open 15 units with Roadchef by the autumn and an additional 14 by next spring.

An increase in book sales, as well as strong sales growth at its airport and motorway stores, helped the book and magazine retailer raise half-year pre-tax profits by 8% to £64million, in spite of lower sales at its high street stores.

Kate Swann, the chief executive, said the economic environment remains uncertain and, whilst we continue to be cautious, we are confident in the outcome for the full year.

The group has also announced it is to expand overseas, with five outlets at Copenhagen airport, which it will run in partnership with a local Danish operator.

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