White Company founder earns £6m after 14 per cent profit rise
CHRISSIE RUCKER, founder of the White Company took home close to £6m last year after the home furnishings and fashion retailer reported a jump in profits.
According to accounts filed this month on Companies House, the retailer’s highest paid shareholder, assumed to be Rucker, earned £5.65m.
The company saw profits rise to £11m in the 53 weeks to 31 March 2012, up from £8.3m the previous year, which included only 52 weeks.
Sales rose 14 per cent to £116m, driven by both online and retail growth, although this was a slowdown on the 22 per cent rise in sales the previous year.
The group said it was “satisfied” with trading in the context of an “extremely difficult trading environment”.
The White Company opened six stores during the year and relocated its headquarters to High Street Kensington. It now has around 40 UK shops.
Former New Look managing director Will Kernan was appointed as chief executive in February last year.
Chrissie Rucker, an ex-journalist, who founded the retailer in 1993, is married to Nick Wheeler, the founder of shirtmaker Charles Tyrwhitt. Wheeler is also a shareholder in the group.