Good growing weather for Dobbies

GARDENERS with short memories could be forgiven for thinking the weather has not been particularly good this year. However, today's first half figures from Dobbies Garden Centres give the lie to that.

Chief executive James Barnes said: 'In our first six months, which runs from November to April, the weather was considerably better than it was in the winter and spring of 2001. Unfortunately May and June, until this week, have been cold and wet. Nevertheless, for the seven and a half months so far our like-for-like sales are up by 10.5%.' Reported sales for the first half soared by 51% to £18m thanks in part to major expansion at two centres. Pre-tax profits jumped by 152% to £1.66m and earnings blossomed from 5p to 12p a share. The interim dividend rises from 2.2p to 2.4p.