UK retailer Dunelm's quarterly sales rise as demand for curtains, kitchenware rebounds

Oct 15 (Reuters) — British homeware retailer Dunelm posted a marginal rise in first-quarter sales on Thursday, as demand for curtains, shutters and kitchenware rebounded after exceptionally warm weather dampened trading. Total sales rose 1.1% to £433 million ($572.99 million) in the 13-week period ended September 26 Digital sales, which include home delivery, Click & Collect and orders placed on in-store tablets, rose 1% and accounted for 41% of total sales Dunelm has been trying to revive growth under Chief Executive Clo Moriarty, who set out a three-year plan to simplify product ranges and pricing to cut costs The Leicester-based company affirmed its annual profit expectations Dunelm, however, warned that first-half profit will fall below prior-year levels, as the benefits of its cost-cutting measures are expected to be weighted toward the second half ($1 = 0.7557 pounds) (Reporting by Nithyashree R B in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) ((NithyashreeRB@thomsonreuters.com)