UK motor parts retailer Halfords' first-half sales get a summer boost

Oct 21 (Reuters) - Bicycles-to-car parts retailer Halfords HFD.L posted a rise in like-for-like first-half sales on Wednesday and retained its annual profit forecast, as extended summers helped push sales of cycling, outdoor and camping equipment higher.

Here are some details:

• Group like-for-like sales grew 7.1% for the 26-week period to October 2

• The firm reaffirmed its annual adjusted pre-tax profit of between £55 million and £65 million ($73.52 million and $86.89 million)

• Halfords has benefited from consumers snapping up camping gear, iceboxes and bicycles amid an unusually warm summer this year even as they grapple with rising costs arising from the Iran war

• The firm has also been helped by its turnaround plans, launched by new CEO Henry Birch in 2025, focussed on pricing, growing its motor services arm and expanding into the growing higher-margin e-bikes market

($1 = 0.7481 pounds)