Card Factory sales and profits rise in FY25 amid growth strategy

Card Factory has welcomed a year of “resilient” trading, with both revenues and profits rising as the group implemented its growth strategy and expanded its store portfolio and product offerings over the period. 

In the full-year ended 31 January 2025, adjusted profit before tax rose by 6.3% to £66m, while revenues rose by 6.2% to £542.5m. EBITDA was also up by 4% to £127.5m. 

The group saw total store sales rise by 5.8%, reflecting the expansion of its store estate with 32 net new stores, while like-for-like store sales grew by 3.4%, reflecting its range expansion and development, as well as targeted pricing action.

Over the year, a space optimisation programme allowed for in-store innovations such as stationery and kids zones, which contributed “significantly” to the like-for-like store revenue growth. 

According to the group, this underpinned category expansion of gift and celebration essentials, driving double-digit LFL growth in key categories including confectionery (+25%), soft toys (+22%) and stationery (+18%).

Meanwhile, partnership revenues hit £22.2m in FY25, up from £17m the prior year, following the acquisition of Garlanna in the Republic of Ireland and Garven in the US. The group said both are “delivering in line with expectations”, having increased its international presence and routes to market.

In its latest results, the group hailed its “disciplined financial performance”, adding that its efficiency and productivity programme, alongside sales growth, “successfully offset” inflationary impacts over the period, and helped mitigate increased freight costs and the National Living Wage hike.  

Looking ahead, Card Factory said its expectations for FY26 of mid-to-high single-digit percentage increases in adjusted PBT remain unchanged, with the board “confident in the compelling growth opportunity for the business”.

CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer said: “Our performance in FY25 demonstrates the strength and resilience of Card Factory and our strategy as we continue to evolve the business into a leading global celebrations group. We delivered strong revenue growth, outperforming the wider celebration occasions market. Further expansion of our store estate combined with continued development of our gift and celebration essentials categories, were key drivers of our performance.

“We are now halfway into our ‘Opening Our New Future’ growth strategy and I am pleased with what we have achieved across the business. With entry into new markets, including the US, and expansion of existing partnerships, we are reaching more customers, in more locations.”

He added: “As we move into FY26, good momentum has continued during our Spring seasons. Despite an uncertain and inflationary backdrop, we remain confident in our ability to deliver mid-to-high single-digit percentage profit growth, underpinned by our strategic focus, our ongoing productivity and efficiency programme and our strong financial discipline.”