The Barbour family have paid themselves a £30 million dividend after a fashion-led revival of wax jackets helped boost the heritage outerwear group’s profits significantly.
Accounts filed with Companies House show J Barbour & Sons posted a £10m rise in operating profits to £49.5m in the year to the end of April, as renewed demand for its signature wax jackets boosted sales and margins.
Founded in 1894 and still wholly owned by the founding family, the company benefited from a resurgence in popularity as wax jackets came back into fashion, fueled by collaborations with luxury labels, musicians and designers that increased its appeal among younger consumers.
Sales rose 9 percent to £350.8 million, supported by a recovery in the wholesale business after a difficult period, as well as higher direct-to-consumer sales across Barbour’s stores and online channels. The group said this performance was achieved despite ongoing global cost and pricing pressures in its markets, which include the UK, Ireland, Germany, the United States and Asia.
A final dividend of £30 million was recommended for the year, which is in line with the previous year’s distribution and represents the first dividend distribution in two years. The highest-paid director, Margaret Barbour, received compensation of £2.5 million, up from £1.9 million the previous year.
Barbour said a “significant portion” of Margaret Barbour’s dividend will be donated to the Barbour Foundation, which supports charitable, cultural and community initiatives, particularly in the north-east of England. Dividends of £822,000 were paid to the trust last year.
The company continues to be run by the fifth generation of the family. Margaret Barbour, 85, serves as chair, while her daughter Helen Barbour, 59, is deputy chair.
Steve Buck, group managing director, said the results underlined the strength of the brand. “Against a complex global backdrop, this year’s financial performance demonstrates the continued strength and resilience of our brands,” he said.
Founded by John Barbour as a supplier of oilskins to sailors in the north-east of England, Barbour has a royal court and today sells outerwear, clothing and accessories to a global customer base ranging from farmers to fashion influencers. Celebrity wearers include Catherine, Princess of Wales, Daniel Craig and Alexa Chung.
Recent collaborations with brands like Ganni and Farm Rio, as well as partnerships with musicians like Sam Fender, have helped reposition Barbour for a new generation of shoppers.
Margaret Barbour joined the board in 1968 following the death of her husband John Barbour. She and her daughter were ranked fourth in the North East in the Sunday Times Rich List last year, with an estimated combined fortune of £580 million.
To date, the Barbour Foundation has donated more than £32 million to causes including The Glasshouse, Age UK and The King’s Trust, and a £1 million donation to Newcastle University to support doctoral research in the medical sciences.
