Sales slump at Wickes

The consumer retail division of Travis Perkins, an Irish group comprising Wickes, Toolstation and Tile Giant, increased sales revenue by 14.1 per cent in the first four months. Admittedly, Toolstation has been part of the group only since 3 January 2012. According to a press release, sales fell by 5.2 per cent like-for-like. The company blames its losses on record levels of rainfall in the spring.