In a trading update for the 20 weeks to 16 January, Clicks says its total turnover increased by 10.4% to R15.1 billion.
Retail health and beauty sales, including the Clicks retailer and the franchise brands of The Body Shop, GNC and Claire’s, saw retail sales grew 14% compared to the previous year.
Prices were hiked on average by 3.3% in the period, compared to the previous year.
“Last year the second wave drove significantly higher sales of preventative healthcare products including supplements, immunity-building vitamins, masks and sanitisers, while the impact of Omicron this year was less severe and resulted in lower purchases of medication and immune-support products,” the company said.
Its pharmaceutical distributor UPD saw its wholesale turnover increase by 2.5%. “[Its] growth rate was impacted by the high base set in the prior period, owing to the severity of the second wave of Covid-19 which resulted in increased hospitalisation and greater demand for medicines, compared to the fourth wave of the pandemic,” Clicks said.
Clicks administered 1.8 million vaccines during the 20-week period, generating sales of R685 million.
“We expect to experience a sustained demand for booster doses of the vaccine in the months ahead,” its new CEO Bertina Engelbrecht said.
The retailer says trading patterns are shifting, with big, “destination” malls – which were hit during the height of lockdown – seeing an improved performance.
Clicks’ interim results will be announced on 28 April 2022.-fin24
