Ann Summers sales on rise

Published on Tuesday 8 October 2002 01:00

ANN Summers, which earlier this year opened a store on Princes Street, has reported a 3.8 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the three months to September 30, sharply down on the previous quarter’s growth of 19.1 per cent.

Chief executive Jacqueline Gold said demand was fuelled by a more liberated attitude to sex among women. "It comes as no surprise to me that women want to buy sexy lingerie and sex toys," she said. "They have a new-found sexual freedom."

At underwear chain Knickerbox - which Ann Summers bought two years ago - first-quarter sales jumped seven per cent, the same as in the previous three months.

Privately-owned Ann Summers, which also sells through parties at customers’ homes and over the internet, has around 70 shops in the UK as well as outlets in Ireland and Spain.

Total turnover for the year to June 2002 was 85 million while underlying sales at its retail outlets soared 28 per cent.