Barbour pays £30m dividend to founding family as profits jump £10m

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 luxury outerwear group.

Accounts filed at Companies House show J Barbour & Sons posted a £10 million operating profit to £49.5 million in the year to the end of April, as renewed demand for its signature jackets boosted sales and margins.

The company, which was founded in 1894 and is still wholly owned by the founding family, has benefited from a resurgence in popularity as waxed jackets come back into fashion, driven by collaborations with luxury labels, artists and designers that have increased its popularity among younger consumers.

Profits rose 9 per cent to £350.8 million, supported by the recovery of its supermarket business after a challenging period, and higher direct-to-consumer sales through Barbour stores and online channels. The group said this performance was achieved despite ongoing global costs and pricing pressures in all of its markets, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, the United States and Asia.

The final dividend of £30 million is recommended for the year, matching the payment made last year and marking the first dividend paid in two years. The highest-paid director, understood to be Margaret Barbour, received a salary of £2.5 million, up from £1.9 million last year.

Barbour said a “large proportion” of Margaret Barbour’s profits are being donated to the Barbour Foundation, which supports charitable, cultural and community efforts, particularly in the north-east of England. Contributions of £822,000 were paid to the foundation last year.

The business remains under the management of the fifth generation of the family. Margaret Barbour, 85, is the chairperson, and her daughter Helen Barbour, 59, is the vice-chairperson.

Steve Buck, the group’s director, said the results underscored the product’s potential. “Compared to the complex world environment, the financial performance this year shows the continued strength and durability of our products,” he said.

Founded by John Barbour as a supplier of oilskins to sailors in the northeast of England, Barbour holds a royal warrant and today sells outerwear, clothing and accessories to a global clientele ranging from farmers to fashion influencers. High profile wearers include Catherine, Princess of Wales, Daniel Craig and Alexa Chung.

Recent collaborations with brands such as Ganni and Farm Rio, as well as collaborations with artists including Sam Fender, have helped reposition Barbour for a new generation of consumers.

Margaret Barbour joined the board in 1968 after the death of her husband, John Barbour. He and his daughter were ranked fourth in the north-east on last year’s Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated fortune of £580 million.

To date, the Barbour Foundation has donated more than £32 million to causes including Glasshouse, Age UK, The King’s Trust and a £1 million gift to Newcastle University to support PhD research in the medical sciences.