Angling Direct revenue up 5.1% to £56.4m in first half
Angling Direct has grown its sales and profit in the six months to 31 July in a “resilient” first half performance,
Group revenue rose by 5.1% to £56.4 million, with total UK sales climbing by 6.9% to £54.6 million. The retailer attributed the uplifts to the strength of its omnichannel proposition in a consolidating market.
Subscribe to TRBThere was also strong growth in its UK store estate, with total store sales up 6.4% to £32.4 million.
Meanwhile, UK online sales increased by 7.5%, supported by continued development of the MyAD loyalty programme and the retailer’s “shop the range” technology.
Angling Direct lifted its UK adjusted EBITDA by 10% to £4.5 million in the period as group adjusted EBITDA rose by 11.9% to £4.3 million. Adjusted pre-tax profit was also up, increasing by 11.2% to £3.3 million.
Angling Direct opened three new UK retail stores in the half year in Crawley, Kettering and Gloucester, taking its UK footprint to 60 stores. It also grew membership of its MyAD loyalty scheme by 16% to 696,000 subscribers.
Giving an update on more recent trading, Angling Direct said group revenues were up 10.7% in August and September, and confirmed that it is currently trading in line with full year market expectations.
Steve Crowe, chief executive of Angling Direct, said: “I am pleased to report a resilient first half performance despite the well-documented challenges facing the UK retail sector.
“Our higher-ticket categories proved robust, even as reduced rainfall impacted footfall and seasonal demand patterns. Further to this, our MyAD Fishing Club continues to be a powerful differentiator, growing 16% to c.696k members since January 2026, driving deeper engagement across our stores and digital platforms while enabling us to attract and retain more customers in a competitive environment.
“We delivered a resilient performance during the period and saw positive momentum in the final two months of the key trading season. with the group trading in line with full year market expectations.
“The board remains vigilant to the external headwinds facing the sector, however, the board has continued confidence in the outlook for the group. This is underpinned by our market leading position, strategy and resilient business model, all of which position us well for medium-term profitable growth.”
