JD Sports’ UK business has been hit by falling sales after disruption in the Red Sea stalled deliveries and the cold, wet spring reduced demand for camping kit and clothing.
The retail group, which owns Millets and Blacks in the UK, said sales at the outdoor kit chain were down 5.3% in the six months to 3 August as “key product lines” had been affected by Houthi attacks off Yemen delaying or rerouting shipping and the early date of Easter, which fell outside the camping season for the first time since 2018.
