Dixons Carphone aims to hit back of the net

Dixons Carphone said it would court football fans during Euro 2016 with special promotions as it reported rising sales in its fourth quarter and narrowed its profit guidance for the year.

Chief executive Seb James said that during the tournament that kicks off next month it would offer a “cash for goals” deal that gives customers cash back when their chosen team scores.

“We’re finding not so many people are choosing England,” James noted. Wales, though was proving popular.

Dixons Carphone said same-store fourth-quarter sales rose 5% and the same amount for the full year, thanks partly to its UK mobile business.

Full-year profit before tax would now be in the range of £445 million to £450 million, up about 17% on the year before. Previous guidance was for £440 million to £450 million.

James does not believe, like some retailers such as Next, that a fall in consumer spending is on the way.

“We are not as gloomy as some but it is true that in the last recession consumers became more canny and we recognised that if we are going to go out and spend money we had to offer a really interesting thing.”

Shares in the group rose 3.4p to 451.5p.