Rebel Sport in New Zealand, housed under Briscoe Group, has reported a 6.46 per cent rise in sales in the 13 weeks to January 25 – or the fourth quarter of NZ’s financial year.
Total sales across Briscoe Group in the same period, which includes its homewares retail segment, grew by 4.58 per cent overall to NZ$256.6 million (~A$221 million). The homeware segment sales grew by 3.45 per cent.
In full-year terms – from January 27, 2025 to January 25, 2026 – total unaudited group sales were NZ$798.8 million, up just just under 1 per cent compared to last year, with homeware driving the growth. Homeware sales lifted 1.42 per cent, while Rebel sales lifted just 0.13 per cent.
In the last financial year, Rebel Sport NZ contributed just under 40 per cent of total group sales.
Group managing director Rod Duke told investors this is an outstanding result given persistent pressure on consumer sentiment and discretionary spending, coupled with the group tracking behind last year’s sales for the first nine months. He added it was particularly pleasing to see both retail segments return to positive sales growth for the full year.
“Despite the ongoing intensity of a highly competitive retail environment, a key objective for the second half was to reduce the year-on-year decline in gross margin percentage,” Duke said. “At half-year the group had invested 154 basis points of gross margin to maintain flat sales.
“Through targeted promotional adjustments and a focus on specific trading opportunities, we have successfully halved this margin decline in the second half while also delivering +1.95 per cent sales growth over the same period. We expect the full-year group gross profit margin to close at approximately 39.20 per cent.”
The group’s online business also reported a lift in contribution to total sales, hitting 20 per cent exactly, up from 19.69 per cent last year.
Duke said his current strategy is managing inventory and costs. He noted that both stockturn and closing inventory improved across the group year-on-year, with final inventory expected to be at least NZ$5 million below last year.
“I am also pleased to report that total store and overhead expenses will finish less than 1.5 per cent higher than last year - an excellent outcome in an environment where rising business costs have been widely reported,” he said.
In November last year, the group opened its new flagship Rebel X store following the transformation of the existing Panmure Rebel Sport site. Duke said that customer and supplier feedback has been positive, with sales continuing to build since opening.
Briscoe Group also reported interest income for the year, to be around NZ$3.2 million less than last year due to lower interest rates and reduced cash holding. This reflects progress on the construction of the group’s new Drury distribution centre.
Duke also confirmed the group’s full year net profit after tax (NPAT) will be in line with previous guidance, expected to hit between NZ$59 million to NZ$60 million.
The group’s audited full-year results, and an announcement of a final dividend, will be on March 11.