ASOS posts interim sales up 37%

ASOS said it was on its way to achieving its aim of becoming the "world’s number one destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings" as it posted group revenues up 37% to £911.5m in the six months to 28 February 2017.

The fashion etail giant achieved a growth in retail sales of 38% at £889.2m, while international retail sales were up 54% at £548.4m and UK retail sales up 18% at £340.8m in what it described a "more promotional market". Overall profit before tax was up 14% £27.3m.

CEO Nick Beighton said ASOS, which is headquarted in Camden, North London, had made "great progress across the business". "International growth of 54% has been excellent and with the Rest of the World segment a stand out performer," he said.

Customer acquisition was up 29% and the business now has 18m active customers worldwide and more than 5m active customers in the UK alone, Beighton said. "Given the current momentum we are seeing, ASOS is making good progress towards its ultimate goal of becoming the world’s number one destination for fashion-loving 20-somethings,” he added.

The business continues to invest in technology and infrastructure and its "EuroHub 2" warehouse went live last month with plans for a US warehouse "progressing".

At the end of last year the business revealed it was planning to create an additional 1,500 new jobs at its London HQ over the next three years; the facility already employs 2,500 staff.