Vision Express just ahead at half-year

The French parent of Vision Express has reported sales ahead for the UK and Ireland multiple by 2 per cent (excluding joint venture stores) in the half-year to June 30 to E115m.
ÔIn the UK and Ireland sales are up 1 per cent in local currencies, in a slightly negative market,Õ said a GrandVision spokesman. ÔWe continue implementing our repositioning according to the strategy initiated in 1998.Õ
Despite a sales improvement, GrandVision reported its 28 GrandOptical stores in Italy did not do as well as hoped.
ÔItaly suffered from poor weather conditions in the early spring when most sales come from sunglasses,Õ the spokesman said. ÔLike our local colleagues we therefore registered slightly negative growth.Õ
The results took account of 371 outlets, and 107 of the total 196 Vision Express sites.
GrandVisionÕs chief executive officer, Daniel Abittan, was upbeat about the groupÕs finances.
He said: ÔThese half-year figures allow us to look at the rest of 2002 with confidence. At this stage, sales and profits are in line with expectations.Õ