Dr Martens kicks back furlough cash as sales continue to grow despite the closing of stores

By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER

Updated:

Well heeled: Supermodel Gigi Hadid wearing Dr Martens boots

Well heeled: Supermodel Gigi Hadid wearing Dr Martens boots

Dr Martens has become the latest firm to pay back furlough funds to the Government as sales continued to grow in recent months despite the closing of stores. The boot retailer said it was 'morally right' to return cash it claimed after furloughing staff at stores and its manufacturing site.

Kenny Wilson, chief executive, said the company was buoyed by strong online sales during the lockdown. He said: 'We made sure we would have significant liquidity and could pay everyone, so when we saw positive sales continue we knew we had to repay that. So far this financial year, we have maintained growth as ecommerce has offset losses elsewhere.

'Our strategy has been digital first and that obviously put us in a strong position to deal with closures.'

The retailer, which is owned by a private equity giant, joins firms such as housebuilders Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, and packaging giant Bunzl in paying back furlough cash.

It shut stores across Europe, the US and Japan in March, though some in South Korea, Hong Kong and China continued to trade. 

Almost all have now reopened.

The update came as the company posted a 48 per cent jump in revenues to £672.2million for the year to March 31.

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