French furnishings firm Roche Bobois SA has reported a growth in first quarter sales as the start of the year delivered “strong momentum”.
According to its latest Q1 2025 trading update, total sales rose 1.1% to €95.2m from €94.2m against the same period in 2024.
Roche Bobois said that the performance could have been “even better” without delivery delays in the US – due to customs slowdowns at borders and in France for Cuir Center – due to intermittent dockworker strikes, which together accounted for a shortfall of approximately €5.5m during the quarter.
“Order intakes were robust, with retail sales of directly-operated stores rising by 6.1% up to €108.7m in Q1 2025 – a historic quarterly record – driven by an exceptional March, particularly in the US/Canada region (up nearly 20% month-over-month),” the business said.
“In anticipation of US tariffs on European goods and potential currency effects (EUR/USD), Roche Bobois implemented two price increases in the US: a first in early February 2025 and a second in April 2025.
“With this good start of the year, the Group’s order backlog showed significant growth, reaching €161.1m as of 31 March 2025, compared with 31 December 2024.”
Revenue in France came to €27.8m, up 1.6%, while the rest of Europe (excluding France) remained steady at €22.6m, with good momentum in Belgium and Spain offset by lower volumes in Germany. Sales in the US/Canada region was €29.5m, a -7.9% decrease, while the Overseas region saw strong growth from €1.2m to €4.9m, driven by the integration of China.
This year, Roche Bobois plans to open two directly operated stores in the US in Austin and Las Vegas, one in France (in Herblay), and one in Luxembourg. The Group has already relocated its Grenoble store in France to a more premium location and plans to do the same in London’s Hampstead neighbourhood by year-end.
