Beacon Lighting Group expects to achieve earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for FY2016 to fall within $28.2 million to $29.2 million, compared to the $27.4 million for the previous corresponding period.

The lighting retailer also announced it expects sales and net profit after tax (NPAT) for FY2016 to exceed the previous year’s NPAT.

Beacon Lighting reported solid first half year results and said it had a positive start to the second half in relation to company store comparative sales. Sales during the past 10 weeks, however, have ‘not met management’s expectations.’

Group sales for the first 18 weeks of the second half of FY2016 is 4.6 per cent ahead of the corresponding period.

The company’s softer sales were attributed to the change in timing of the Easter break; weak consumer confidence; an increase in clearance activity by competitors in the lighting category; and reduced exposure in key advertising initiatives compared with the previous corresponding period.

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