A first-half fall in sales has led Laura Ashley to warn yesterday that its full-year results are set to fall short of market expectations.
The homewares and fashion retailer said that a drop in demand for its furniture and decorating ranges had sent it to a £1.5m loss for the first half of its financial year, down from a pre-tax profit of £4.3m a year previously.
The latest results come as the chain, which has 156 stores in Britain, prepares to close a quarter of its high street branches as part of an overhaul of its strategy.
