Lockdown ‘winner’ B&M enjoys sales surge

Discount retailer B&M will pay a special dividend following strong sales growth in the third quarter, it revealed on Thursday.

The FTSE 100 company, which sells everything from groceries to homeware products, is classified as ‘an essential’ retailer  in the UK, so has been allowed to remain open here throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

It said said same store sales in the UK leapt 21.1% in the 13 weeks to December 26.

A special dividend of 20p per share, equating to around £200 million in total, will be paid. Boss Simon Arora and his family are the biggest shareholders , meaning he will pay himself around £30 million.

Arora thanked staff for their hard work, and added: "We are awarding some 30,000 store and distribution colleagues an extra week's wages in recognition of their considerable efforts.”