Lockdown-induced gadgetry rush sent Dixons Carphone's online sales skywards – and repaid £73m of furlough wages

The leader of Dixons Carphone has delivered a bullish appraisal of nan UK retailer's capacity successful a twelvemonth erstwhile online tech income spiked and revenues from its ebbing mobile business continued to slide.

Publishing results [PDF] for nan twelvemonth ended 1 May, Dixons reported that revenues crossed nan group topped retired astatine £10.344bn – up a smidgen (2 per cent) connected nan twelvemonth before.

And erstwhile each nan rate was added up, nan retailer was capable to study pre-tax profits of £33m – an betterment connected nan £140m nonaccomplishment from fiscal '20.

The retailer was besides keen to constituent to nan 103 per cent jump to £4.7bn successful online income which helped its profit and nonaccomplishment accounts return to nan black arsenic group sat astatine location and deed nan web to get their electronics hole during lockdown.

Dixons said it saw maturation successful each awesome merchandise class pinch tech singled retired arsenic nan "standout performer" arsenic group adjusted to location working, location schooling, and keeping themselves entertained arsenic champion they could.

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Unfortunately, for each "standout performer", location are immoderate parts of nan business that grounded to shine.

Sales astatine its UK and Ireland mobile cognition dived 55 per cent arsenic it continues to rejig its business, shutter its mini standalone Carphone Warehouse UK stores, and close its airport-based outlets pinch nan nonaccomplishment of immoderate 400 jobs.

In bully news for taxpayers, nan institution said it had repaid £73m of furlough wages for unit successful nan UK and Ireland, and settled its £144m VAT deferral.

In a statement, main exec Alex Baldock said nan past twelvemonth had seen nan retailer "grow [its] online business and adhd it to our in-store strengths."

"We're now financially stronger too, allowing america to salary backmost complete £200m to governments and to recommence our dividend." ®