Mothercare, which trades in 31 nations by way of franchise partnerships, noticed retail gross sales fall from £281m to £231m 12 months on 12 months in its newest buying and selling replace for the 52 weeks to 29 March.
Adjusted EBITDA for the interval was £3.5m, halved from £6.9m in the identical time final 12 months.
Mothercare attributed the 18% decline in gross sales to challenges with its Center East franchise companion amid ongoing uncertainty within the area, as retailer numbers throughout the 12 months have been lowered by 47 to 77 shops as of March 2025.
The enterprise introduced it can finish its unique distribution relationship with magnificence retailer Boots on the finish of 2025 to pursue “larger alternative for the model and a brand new companion within the UK”.
Mothercare chairman Clive Whiley mentioned: “Our outcomes for final 12 months mirror the impression of the persevering with uncertainty on our franchise companions’ operations within the Center East.
“Given the components influencing among the firm’s working markets, our quick precedence stays to assist our franchise companions, in the end for the advantage of our personal enterprise. In that context we stay in discussions with a number of events to revive essential mass alongside delivering our remaining core targets.
“The underlying enterprise has frequently proved its resilience and the energy of the model is clear from the curiosity it generates and the resultant discussions with potential strategic companions we’re having,” he added.
