AB Foods says warm weather stalled Primark sales

LONDON: Associated British Foods said on Thursday unusually warm winter weather meant sales at its Primark discount fashion chain stalled in the nine weeks to Jan. 2.

Britons avoided buying winter clothes during some of the country's mildest November and December temperatures, with retailers Next Plc and Marks and Spencer Group blaming the weather for disappointing sales before Christmas.

Primark posted weaker sales at shops open more than a year in the nine weeks to Jan. 2, said AB Foods, which also has a major sugar business.

The company said that on a total sales and constant currency basis Primark's sales climbed 7 percent in the 16 weeks to Jan. 2.

For its 2015/16 financial year, AB Foods said it was sticking to its current outlook for a modest decline in adjusted operating profit, brought about by currency pressures.