WH Smith saw a 4 per cent fall in like-for-like sales during the 20 weeks to January 20 as strong sales in its airport and railway station stores helped offset problems on the high street.
The stationery and book seller said “challenging” sales of books across the autumn and winter period were partly “due to the decline in spoof humour titles and no new, big publishing trends".
WH Smith, now 225 years old, said total sales from its shops located in airports, railway station, motorway services and hospitals globally rose 7 per cent during the same period, with like-for-like sales with the same period last year rising 3 per cent.
The retailer now has 815 units in what it defines as travel locations after opening six at airports in Rome.
It also expects to open 15 units across the UK this year, having opened new airport stores in Gatwick and Stansted in the autumn and spring of 2017.
WH Smith’s travel business was boosted by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and the subsequent fall in the value of the pound attracting tourists to the UK.
WH Smith expects to save £12m in costs this year, which it said was slightly ahead of its target.
“Looking ahead, while there is some uncertainty in the broader economic environment, we remain confident that the group is well positioned for the year ahead,” said chief executive Stephen Clarke.
