DFI Retail Triumphs: H1 Profits Leap by 44% Amid Sales Surge in All Business Sectors

DFI Retail Group has announced a substantial surge in profits for the first half of the year, with all its subsidiaries showing positive sales growth for the period. The company’s underlying profit from ongoing operations leapt by 44 per cent, reaching an impressive US$117 million for the six months ending in June.

Rising Sales Across Segments

In terms of like-for-like (LFL) sales, the company saw a 3 per cent improvement. This was driven by the robust performance of the health and beauty sector and a return to growth for the convenience and home furnishings segments. Health and beauty witnessed a 6 per cent increase in LFL sales, with Mannings in Hong Kong contributing a 5 per cent growth. This was fuelled by an expanded basket size and a boost in visitor numbers. Guardian in Southeast Asia posted a strong growth of 9 per cent, with Indonesia and Vietnam experiencing close to a 20 per cent enhancement.

The company’s convenience segment, responsible for 7-Eleven stores in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore and South China, saw a 2 per cent rise in LFL sales. The home furnishings division, which operates Ikea stores in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Indonesia, reported a 4 per cent LFL sales hike, a considerable improvement from last year’s 6 per cent decline. The food division, managing supermarket and grocery chains in East and Southeast Asia, noted a modest 0.5 per cent uplift in LFL sales.

Affirming the Company’s Strategy

DFI’s CEO, Scott Price, attributed the first-half results to the effectiveness of the company’s strategy, which is defined by its customer-centricity, focus on returns and principled execution. He stated, “As we continue to deepen customer engagement and build new profit pools through the DFI Omni Platform, we are well-positioned to deliver sustainable long-term value with greater earnings resilience.”

DFI recently made news with its acquisition of Cody Hong Kong, an outdoor advertising solution provider, to the tune of approximately $3.8 million. This move is in line with DFI’s strategy to create an all-encompassing advertising solution in Hong Kong via DFIQ Media.

DFI has also made some changes to its leadership team this month, appointing Andrew Wong as the CEO of DFI Ikea, Curtis Liu as CEO of health and beauty, Tom van der Lee as CEO of Food, and Kaizhi Wu as group CFO.

DFI has revised its full-year outlook, projecting organic revenue growth of 3-4 per cent and an underlying profit of between $285 and $305 million. Despite a higher oil price forecast for the rest of the year, the group anticipates stronger profitability backed by improved operational efficiency.