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The Barbour family has paid itself a £30 million dividend after a fashion-led revival of waxed jackets helped drive a sharp increase in profits at the heritage outerwear group.
Accounts filed at Companies House show that J Barbour & Sons posted a £10 million rise in operating profit to £49.5 million in the year to the end of April, as renewed demand for its signature waxed jackets boosted sales and margins.
The company, founded in 1894 and still wholly owned by the founding family, has benefited from a resurgence in popularity as waxed jackets returned to fashion, driven by collaborations with luxury labels, musicians and designers that have broadened its appeal among younger consumers.
Turnover rose by 9 per cent to £350.8 million, supported by a recovery in its wholesale business after a challenging period, alongside higher direct-to-consumer sales through Barbour’s stores and online channels. The group said this performance was achieved despite ongoing global cost and pricing pressures across its markets, which include the UK, Ireland, Germany, the United States and Asia.
A final dividend of £30 million was recommended for the year, matching the payout made in the previous year and marking the first dividends paid in two years. The highest-paid director, understood to be Margaret Barbour, received £2.5 million in remuneration, up from £1.9 million a year earlier.
Barbour said that a “significant proportion” of Margaret Barbour’s dividend is donated to the Barbour Foundation, which supports charitable, cultural and community initiatives, particularly in the northeast of England. Dividends of £822,000 were paid to the foundation last year.
The business remains under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the family. Margaret Barbour, 85, serves as chairman, while her daughter Helen Barbour, 59, is vice-chairman.
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 mariners in northeast England, Barbour holds a royal warrant and today sells outerwear, clothing and accessories to a global customer base that ranges from farmers to fashion influencers. High-profile wearers include the Catherine, Princess of Wales, Daniel Craig and Alexa Chung.
Recent collaborations with brands such as Ganni and Farm Rio, as well as partnerships with musicians including 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 northeast in last year’s Sunday Times Rich List, 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, The King’s Trust and a £1 million gift to Newcastle University to support PhD research in medical sciences.
