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United Co-op Travel sees recent volumes slip
A downturn in business at United Co-op Travel Group in the last two months means there are “significant challenges” for the second half of the year, according to general manager Mike Greenacre.
He was talking as the agency group unveiled a 12.1% rise in turnover to £235 million in the 26 weeks to July 23 against the equivalent first half of 2004.
Although no profit figures were released, the group revealed a 74% sales rise at the 84-strong Freedom Travel Group of independent agents and sales growth of eight per cent at homeworking arm Future Travel.
The number of Future Travel customers booking dynamically packaged holidays rose by 11% to represent almost a third of its business.
United Co-op acquired Tony Iredale Travel to increase its share of the retail travel sector in West Yorkshire during the period, while the addition of Hourds Travel pushed the group’s business travel interests into the top 15 in the sector.
Greenacre said: “We have once again achieved significant growth across all areas of the business.
“Nevertheless we face many more significant challenges in the second half year, with clear indications of a downturn in volumes over the past eight weeks or so.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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