UK. Leading travel retailer WHSmith today issued a trading update for the half year to 28 February, with revenue climbing +5% on a constant currency basis year-on-year. Like-for-like sales rose by +2% on the same period in the previous financial year.
UK market revenue increased by +2%, with like-for-like revenue also up +2%.
In the Air channel, revenue increased +1%, with like-for-like revenue up +2%. Growth was hit by temporary store closures across Heathrow Airport terminals amid investment in stores. WHSmith’s refurbished flagship stores are expected to open in April.
In Rail, revenue was up +1% with like-for-like revenue down -2% against the backdrop of continuing consumer headwinds, said the company.
In North America, revenue climbed by +10% year-on-year with like-for-like revenue up +1%.
In Air, revenue was up +15% on a constant currency basis. The Travel Essentials business continued to perform strongly with revenue for the 26-week period up +22% and like-for-like revenue up +6%, driven by new store openings over the last 12 months and good spend per passenger growth.
A WHSmith statement said, “We continue to see the same trends across our InMotion business as we reported in December 2025, with total revenue down -1% compared to the prior year and like-for-like revenue down -4%. As previously disclosed, a review of the InMotion store portfolio is underway.”
In the Resorts business, revenue declined -6%, largely driven by a continued reduction in Las Vegas visitor numbers. The retailer have closed three fashion stores in the period and will execute a plan for the remaining fashion stores portfolio during the balance of the year, as advised when reporting its annual results.
In the Rest of the World, revenue increased +8% on a constant currency basis and +6% on a like-for-like basis, as a result of the annualisation of new store openings in the prior year.
WHSmith said, “We continue to actively manage our international store portfolio and will exit sub-scale markets as contracts expire or through targeted portfolio actions. During the period, we closed four uneconomic stores at Düsseldorf Airport at lease end.” ✈
