Revenue at Indigo Books & Music rose 12.9% in the third quarter ended December 26, 2015, compared to the same period a year ago. Sales rose to C$383.2 million at the Canadian retailer, while net earnings in the quarter jumped to C$52.8 million (from C$33.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015).
The chain reported that increases were across all channels and categories. On a comparable store basis, Indigo and Chapters superstores posted 15.5% growth, while Coles and Indigospirit small format stores increased by 13.4%. Sales from Indigo's online channel, indigo.ca, rose 17.9%. Indigo operated one fewer superstore in the quarter than last year, and four fewer small-format outlets.
Revenue growth was driven by double-digit growth in the general merchandise business and high-single digit growth in the core book business, Indigo said.
During the quarter, Indigo launched two expanded IndigoKids locations, at Chapters Chinook Centre in Calgary and Chapters West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2016, sales were up 9.1%, to C$773.8 million, and profits rose to C$42.0 million from C$10.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015.
