PPR has reported double-digit sales growth for the second quarter ended 30 June. Luxury goods giant PPR said luxury sales soared 22.4 percent to €777 million during the quarter, with group revenues rising 6.2 percent to €4.06 billion. “Impressive� sales at Gucci Group drove PPR results. Gucci Group sales gained 24.3 percent to €470.6 million, compared with 18 percent in the first quarter. Its sales of leather goods, dresses and knitwear by designer Frida Giannini performed the best, said PPR chief financial officer Jean-Francois Palus. He also said all geographical regions and categories showed double-digit growth, and added that the timepiece category had improved enormously thanks to the best-selling Twirl watch. Furthermore, he said Gucci would “accelerate� store openings in the second half, starting with the opening of two new locations in Japan . Bottega Veneta reported a surge in sales of 81 percent to €58.3 million, with double-digit growth in all regions and categories. With an aggressive expansion campaign in progress, the company opened eight stores in the first half of the year. Yves Saint Laurent also gained ground, with the troubled brand reporting a rise in leather goods sales of 43 percent. Its ready-to-wear business saw “high double digit� growth, boosting sales to €42.2 million, up from €33.1 million last year. According to Palus, sales in the US were strongest, with a 46 percent gain. He also pointed out growth at Balenciaga and Stella McCartney as particularly strong performers. Boucheron, Alexander McQueen, Sergio Rossi and Bedat & co achieved combined sales of €72.7 million, up 12 percent.

Meanwhile, PPR's retail operations did not perform as well. The division, which includes music and book chain FNAC and the Conforama furniture chain, only saw sales gain 4 percent to €3.28 billion. Last month's sale of Printemps to Maurizio Borletti of the Italian La Rinascente department stores signalled a possible move away from such businesses to concentrate on luxury, which has been far more profitable for the group. Its Redcats mail order business saw sales slide 3.6 percent to €1.07 billion, due to “extremely unfavourable home shopping conditions in Europe ,� Palus said.