D Sports Fashion has stated its gross sales jumped final month however cautioned over slower buying and selling in North America, forward of the group’s annual normal assembly (AGM) with shareholders.

The sportswear retailer stood by its outlook for the total yr the place it expects to notch up a £1 billion revenue.

Sales development slowed to eight% in May, after leaping 15% over the primary three months of the yr, the corporate stated.

But the year-on-year enchancment displays provide bottlenecks easing, that means it had extra inventory to promote.

In newer weeks, constructive buying and selling within the UK, Europe and Asia has been partially offset by weaker gross sales in North America, amid a sector-wide slowdown throughout the area, the corporate cautioned.

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JD has been rising quickly within the US, together with including a flagship retailer in Chicago, and had 58 internet new retailer openings throughout Europe akin to in Hungary and Greece over the primary quarter.

Last month, it shared bold development plans to speak in confidence to 350 retailers globally every year, targeted in North America and continental Europe.

The British agency additionally eyed up an acquisition final month of France’s sportswear and coach retailer Courir, for practically £450 million.

JD stated it expects the proposed takeover to formally shut later within the yr, because it seems to increase additional into underrepresented markets.

The retail large noticed its revenue shrink by greater than £200 million to £441 million final yr, together with prices from its earlier acquisitions.

But markets count on the agency to report a pre-tax revenue of £1.04 billion within the yr to the top of February 2024, with round 65% of it generated within the second half of the yr.

JD was anticipated to face stress from shareholders at its AGM on Tuesday to raise its lowest paid employees’ wages in keeping with inflation, amid cost-of-living pressures.

Some shareholders raised considerations over the re-election of one of many firm’s administrators on the AGM.

A “significant number” of votes by impartial shareholders have been solid in opposition to Mahbobeh Sabetnia’s reappointment, JD stated.

The former Amazon and HSBC govt changed Heather Jackson as a non-executive director on the board of JD in 2021. She was additionally the group’s shopper responsibility director and a member of its remuneration committee.

JD stated: “The board takes seriously its responsibilities to represent the interests of shareholders and to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance and it will engage with shareholders over the coming months to understand any ongoing concerns around Mahbobeh Sabetnia’s re-election.”