Consumers remain “resilient” although they are very selective about their purchases, said Regis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports Fashion at the company’s latest trading update today. He said the business remained cautious about consumer confidence for the second half of 2025 given continued strains on consumer finances and unemployment risk.
Schultz said JD continued to make strong progress in developing its omnichannel customer proposition, store footprint and supply chain and was controlling costs and cash effectively.
In Europe, JD Group’s Heerlen distribution centre in the Netherlands continues to ramp up and is on track to launch with automation this year. It will serve stores first with online to follow in the first half of next year.
Last month JD Group completed a comprehensive refinancing of its debt facilities, securing a new five-year £1bn multi-bank revolving credit facility and associated three-year US$700m term loan.
The retail group said that it doesn’t consider direct impacts of US tariffs on JD to be material however with regards to the indirect impacts it said it continues to monitor changes as well as keeping in close contact with its brand partners on what they are doing to cope. It will update further at its half year results on 24 September.
A further £100m share buyback programme will also launch after the results announcement. It follows the completion of a £100m share buyback programme originally announced at the end of July.
Market share
In the second quarter, North America accounted for 36% of sales, Europe for 34% and the UK for a 26% share. The company said it expects its FY26 profit before tax and adjusting items to be in line with current market expectations, before any indirect impact of US tariffs.
The company revealed in May that its profits had been hit by a volatile market.
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