The owner of Rebel Sports and Supercheap Auto plans to open 25 new stores in the year ahead, and says sales are improving.

Super Retail Group (SRG) also owns the Ray’s Outdoors, Boating Camping Fishing (BCF) and Amart Sports chains.

Peter Birtles, CEO of SRG, said the company’s auto division planned to open five new stores in the 2013/14 financial year, while 10 new leisure and 10 new sports stores are also planned.

However, one Ray’s Outdoors store, one Rebel Sports store and the last standalone Goldcross Cycles stores are set to close.

He said comparable sales growth, with takes out the impact of store openings or closures, had improved in the first 16 weeks of the financial year.

“Trading so far this year has been solid, building on the consistent delivery of strong like for like sales growth in recent years,” Mr Birtles said in statement.

“After a pleasing start to the year, trading slowed around the federal election but has returned to plan during October.”

The cost of new stores, refurbishments, and new distribution centres in Sydney and Brisbane, would be $110 million in the 2013/14 year, he said.

Earnings margins in Super Retail’s Auto division are expected to be similar to the previous year, while margins in leisure and sports are expected to post a small improvement, Mr Birtles said.

Super Retail shares were down 45 cents, or 3.2 per cent, at $13.42 at 1405 AEDT.

AAP