Halfords set for profits dip

The car parts to bicycles chain posts annual results on Wednesday amid signs that its bike sales are back on track.

The group has reported two quarters of like-for-like bike sales growth in a row, with a 1.9% rise in the final three months of its year.

This marked a welcome recovery for the group, which was hit by a dire performance in its peak summer trading period last year.

Halfords, which operates 463 stores, posted a 5.9% fall in half-year underlying profits to £46.4 million after the bike woes last summer, when sales dropped 11% between mid-July and mid-August.

Recently-hired boss Jill McDonald is spearheading an overhaul to revive the retailer’s flagging performance, including a renewed push in the bike sector, with Olympian and Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins signed up to launch a new children’s range.

Full-year profits are expected to drop, but only marginally, to £79.9 million from £81.1 million the previous year thanks to more robust trading in its car maintenance arm and travel offering, which sells products such as camping furniture.