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# Retail
Trading conditions in Ireland 'continue to be challenging', says M&S
The retailer reported a slight increase in womenswear sales and said that sales were impacted by launch of new website.
RETAILER MARKS AND Spencer today reported a rise in international sales, but said that sales were affected by the recent launch of the company’s new website.
Announcing M&S’s latest quarterly figures today, Chief Executive Marc Bolland said that “as anticipated the settling in of the new M&S.com site has had an impact on sales”.
Like-for-like sales of non-food products were down 1.5%, M&S.com sales fell 8.1%, and food sales rose by 1.7%.
Meanwhile, group sales were up 2.3% in the quarter to the end of June, while international sales were up 4.7%. The company noted that “Trading conditions in the Republic of Ireland continue to be challenging”, and said that Middle East sales were affected “by the timing of shipments to our franchise partners”.
The company says increased sales of its womenswear were driven by its improvements in “quality and style”. M&S says that it expects to return to growth ahead of its peak trading period.
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