Sporting retailer Rebel – which stocks a wide range of fitness apparel, footwear and accessories – has managed to maintain steady like-for-like sales growth through FY26, as its sister subsidiaries Macpac, BCF and Supercheap Auto drag in the second half.
Super Retail Group shared these results in its FY26 trading update today, which show Rebel’s like-for-like sales growth holding at 3.8 per cent in both the first and second half, with total sales for the year up 4.5 per cent to $1.4 billion.
According to Super Retail, the total sales lift was driven by uplifts in transaction numbers and average transaction value.
“Growth was broad-based, led by strong performances in sports equipment, accessories and recovery. Footwear continued to perform well despite increasing competitive intensity,” Super Retail reported.
“Licensed apparel was a standout performer, particularly in the second half, supported by strong customer engagement around the FIFA Men’s World Cup.”
The retailer’s gross margin improved by 60 basis points, with Super Retail citing improved promotional discipline and favourable product mix in the second half.
Stock loss levels have also reportedly stabilised, with a range of initiatives being implemented across the business targeting an improvement in the medium-term.
Cost of doing business grew by 6 per cent, driven primarily by an increase in occupancy expenses. Segment profit before tax margin of 7.4 per cent was in line with the prior year, and its PBT grew 4.3 per cent to $105.1 million.
The retailer’s active club membership also grew by 5 per cent, and represented 83 per cent of total sales. Online sales of $253 million represented 18 per cent of total sales. Click & Collect represented 28 per cent of online sales.
Rebel opened nine stores and closed nine, resulting in 162 stores at period end.
The top- and bottom-line growth at Rebel has helped keep Super Retail Group’s sales and profits above-board, with group sales lifting by 3.2 per cent to $4.2 billion. Supercheap Auto – Super Retail’s largest subsidiary by sales – also saw sales growth through the year by 3.9 per cent, with Macpac up 3.5 per cent.
BCF – which does stock apparel and footwear alongside hiking, fishing and camping equipment – saw the lowest growth of just 0.2 per cent
However, at the bottom line, Super Retail statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) slipped by 7.2 per cent to $206 million.
Group managing director and CEO Paul Bradshaw called it a solid result overall, considering significant headwinds including geopolitical instability in the Middle East, unfavourable weather conditions and increasing interest rate pressure on households.
“In my first nine months as CEO, I have seen firsthand the commitment of our 15,500 team members and their ability to respond quickly to external challenges to our business,” Bradshaw said. “Our team’s passion, the diversity of our product offering and the strength of our iconic brands were instrumental in delivering this result.”
Bradshaw pointed to an overall group-wide like-for-like sales growth of 1.8 per cent, and commended Rebel and Supercheap Auto on their top-line performance.
“During the year, we also delivered key strategic projects, including a new Human Resources Core and Payroll system and the seamless execution of our new automated distribution centre in Victoria,” Bradshaw said.
“While our brands collectively delivered profit growth, the deliberate investment in these projects to position the group for long-term success resulted in a decline in profit before tax.
“Towards the end of the financial year, we launched our new five-year strategy that outlined our ambitious growth plans and transformation agenda.
"While challenges in the broader retail landscape remain, I'm confident we have the team and strategy in place to meet evolving customer needs and deliver future growth."
Super Retail also shared early FY27 numbers, which show Macpac sales plunging by 10.2 per cent in the first seven weeks, with Rebel growing just 2.8 per cent and more than 5 per cent growth at BCF and Supercheap Auto respectively.
“The group experienced a negative impact from the fuel crisis in Q4 FY26, and while there have been signs of stabilisation in the short period since, tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, creating uncertainty around the outlook for FY27,” the company shared.
“Domestic factors such as rising interest rates, elevated inflation, and pressure on housing markets are weighing on consumer confidence in the near term.”