Kesa Electricals sales up 6.5%
By Simon Kennedy
SimonKennedy
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K.-based electrical goods retailer Kesa Electricals Plc uk:kesa said Wednesday that sales in the three months to April 30 rose 6.5% to 922.7 million pounds ($1.73 billion). Sales at its Darty stores grew 6.7% to 363.7 million pounds, driven by strong demand for new technologies, particularly flat screen TVs. Sales at U.K. Comet stores rose 3.8% to 328.9 million pounds, with television sales also performing well, sales of kitchen appliances remaining poor. The company said an external review has valued its property portfolio at 495 million pounds, 85% higher than the value disclosed in its January accounts. Kesa said it will continue to concentrate on margin management and cost control.