Fashion and home furnishings retailer Next has reported a growth in sales and profit.
According to its latest results for the year ended January 2025, total group sales rose 8.2% to £6.3bn from £5.8bn in 2024.
UK sales rose 2% to £4.6bn from £4.5bn, with online driving growth – up 5% to £2.5bn from £2.4bn. Retail store sales declined 1% to £1.8bn. International sales online rose 27% to £930m from £731m.
Within its wholly-owned brands and licences segment, which includes MADE, Nina Campbell Home and Rockett St George, sales were up 4.4% to £179m from £171m year-on-year. Overall, Next brand sales rose 3.1% to £1.3bn.
Pre-tax profit resulted at £1bn, up 10.1% from £918m recorded in the previous year.
During the period, Next reduced its store portfolio by one to 547 but did open seven new stores, offset by five mainline closures and three clearance store closures. In the year ahead, Next plans to open 10 new stores and re-site six stores to new locations.
In addition, two home stores will be converted to fashion stores. “These changes will result in a modest increase in trading space (+0.4%) – this will be the first time we have increased our fashion and home trading space in over five years,” Next said.
Looking ahead, Next said that sales in the first eight weeks of the year have been “ahead of expectations” and is upgrading its half year 2026 guidance with sales forecast to be up 6.5% (from 3.5%) resulting in sales for the full year being up 5% (from 3.5%). NEXT Group pre-tax profit guidance increased by +£20m to £1,066m, up 5.4%.
