UK retail group J Sainsbury plc has reported higher full-year sales, supported by improved performance at Argos, where increased customer numbers and larger basket sizes helped lift revenue.
For the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2026, group sales rose 4.9% to £25.9bn, up from £24.6bn a year earlier. Pre-tax profit increased 2% to £619m, while statutory profit after tax climbed 55.3% to £393m, primarily reflecting lower discontinued operations losses in Financial Services and reduced restructuring costs.
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Argos sales increased 0.7% to £4.1bn from £4bn. The retailer said strong summer trading was partly offset by more subdued consumer spending during the Black Friday and Christmas peak period. Sales volumes nevertheless rose 3.7%, driven by higher shopper traffic and increased basket values.
Within the wider group, General Merchandise sales declined 3.2%, which Sainsbury's attributed mainly to an expected volume reduction following a strategic decision to allocate more store space to food categories.
The business also highlighted progress at Habitat, where design-led collaborations, alongside the relaunch of Chad Valley, supported positive market share trends in homewares and toys. Chad Valley recorded a 21% improvement in sales growth following its relaunch.
At the year end, Argos operated 201 standalone stores, 466 outlets within Sainsbury's supermarkets and 466 collection points, giving a total estate of 1,133 customer touchpoints.
The results indicate continued resilience in value-led home and general merchandise retail, with convenience, multichannel access and targeted brand refreshes remaining central to growth strategies.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com
