Successful sales at the 149 shops in The Athlete’s Foot network across Australia and New Zealand have helped parent company RCG Corporation record a profit of $8.9 million for the year ending 26 June 2011. This is a 30 percent increase from the $6.9 million reported in 2010.

The Athlete’s Foot chain recorded total sales growth of 7.3 percent from $186.1 million to $199.4 million for the year, with 4.3 percent like-for-like sales growth.

Trading in the first four weeks of August 2011 showed like-for-like sales up one percent on last year, but the 10 percent sales increase for the month of July 2010 couldn’t be repeated this year: like-for-like sales in July dropped 1.8 percent.

Eighteen larger format stores were added to the network this year – six new, 12 converted from existing stores – bringing the total new-look outlets to 34 at the end of the financial year.

Ivan Hammerschlag, chairman of RCG Corporation, said We are delighted with the performance of The Athlete’s Foot. Despite the widely reported difficult retail conditions, particularly in the discretionary products sector, the TAF business continues to deliver consistently outstanding results.

The group has also completed the first stage of a digital strategy with the unveiling of a new website in July 2011. An ecommerce site and the online integration of the group’s customer loyalty program are in the second phase of the roll-out, due for Christmas 2011 completion.

* The RCG group comprises the retail chain Shoe Superstore and RCG Brands, a wholesale and distribution division which includes the Merrell label. This year the company acquired the licence to distribute CAT (Caterpillar), and the licence for its apparel range from 2012.