Sales of iPads and Samsung tablets have helped boost sales at Currys and PC World.
Owner Dixons Retail Group yesterday confirmed it continued to fill the gap left by rival Comet after reporting another sharp jump in sales and profits.
Dixons said UK and Ireland like-for-like sales surged 12% in the quarter to October 31, with profits for the first half of its financial year up 355% at £31.4million, compared with £6.9million a year earlier.
The company said the “particularly strong” start to the year was in part due to the exit of competitors, most notably Comet at the end of 2012.
However, it added: “Our relentless drive for better value, choice and service for customers has also helped CurrysPCWorld gain further market share, which we believe stands at approximately 23%.”
As well as demand for tablet computers, Dixons has benefited from more white goods sales in the wake of Comet’s demise.
Kate Calvert, an analyst at brokers Investec noted: “It is now the last remaining specialist with clear market leadership.”
Across the group, Dixons’ figures have been dragged lower by its troubled European arm PIXmania, but the group has since off-loaded the business, as well as its loss-making ElectroWorld chain in Turkey.
Underlying group profits for the half year more than doubled to £30.2million but when including write-downs on the value of discontinued operations, the bottom-line loss stood at £83.5million. Dixons’ shares, which have more than quadrupled in the last two years, closed 5% lower yesterday to 48.73p.
Freddie George, retail analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald, said: “Following the disposals of Pixmania and their Turkish and Italian subsidiaries, the company now has dominant market positions in the UK and Scandinavia.
“It will also benefit from a relatively strong product pipeline and from a reduction in interest costs.”
The company employs 32,000 people in 12 countries and has 955 stores. There are 47 shops in Scotland including Aberdeen, Inverurie, Elgin and Inverness.