(CPR.L) Carpetright PLC Buy/Sell

13 weeks to 12 weeks to 25 weeks to
1 August 2009 24 October 2009 24 October 2009
(previously
reported)
Group Sales 7.5% 10.3% 8.9%

UK & RoI

Rest of Europe

Lord Harris of Peckham, Chairman and Chief Executive, said:

"We are pleased with our overall performance during the period.

"In the UK, we continue to take advantage of opportunities and have opened a net 11 new stores in the last twelve weeks. Our discussions with house builders and insurers have begun to secure us additional business and we expect to continue to make progress in this area during the second half. The underlying carpet margin has remained in line with last year, whilst the greater proportion of beds sales in the mix has resulted in the overall UK gross profit percentage dropping by around 60 basis points.

"As expected, sales in The Netherlands and Belgium decreased as a consequence of slowing economic conditions. However, we believe we continue to grow market share and are well positioned to capitalise on this when trading conditions improve.

"We expect to deliver a half year profit performance ahead of expectations and, whilst we remain cautious about the retail market in the balance of the financial year, we have made a solid start."

Analyst conference call

Lord Harris will host a conference call for analysts at 8.15 a.m.

The dial in number is 0800 028 1243 with the passcode 4543012.

Thereafter, for further enquiries please contact:

Carpetright plc Tel: 01708 802000

Lord Harris of Peckham, Chairman and Chief Executive Neil Page, Group Finance Director
Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

Angharad Couch / Lindsay Noton

A copy of this trading statement will be available on our website www.carpetright.plc.uk today from 7.00 a.m.

Notes

1. All sales figures are quoted after deducting VAT.

2. Excludes Sleepright within Carpetright locations.

3. Like-for-like sales represent sales from stores which have been trading for 52 weeks at the start of the financial year. It includes the sales of beds, where these have been introduced into the like-for-like store base since the acquisition of Sleepright in December 2008.

4. The Group will announce its Interim Results for the 26 weeks to 31 October 2009 on Tuesday 15 December 2009.

5. There have been no significant changes to the Group's financial position during the period.

6. Certain statements in this report are forward looking. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Because these statements contain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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