Mothercare eyes overseas growth - graduate jobs

University graduates searching for work in the retail sector may want to look to Mothercare, which said strong growth overseas will offset a "more challenging" consumer climate in the UK this year.

The launch of Mothercare in Australia and the Early Learning Centre in South Africa helped the babycare retailer hail a record year for its international arm, as sales soared 21% to £490.9 million.

As shoppers continue to see their spending powers restrained by the economic climate, Mothercare is "planning cautiously" for more sluggish conditions. The company, which has 1,115 stores in 52 countries, enjoyed its fourth year of like-for-like UK sales growth in a row.

The company hit City forecasts for underlying annual profits for the year to March 31, as they rose 17% to £52 million.

Mothercare is driving its overseas operations through franchising, which allows the firm to profit from royalties on international sales for the use of its brands without heavy capital investment.

The group is targeting India and China as key growth markets after forming joint ventures with local partners. Mothercare expects to have 70 stores in India open by the end of the current year, with a medium-term target of 200.

In the UK - where Mothercare's Spin pushchair has proved a best-seller along with the ELC's Retro Robot - the firm is shifting away from lower-profit town centre stores towards more out-of-town parenting centres in key areas, planning 120 of the new outlets.