Maidenform Brands sales rise in Q4

Maidenform Brands, the parent company of brands including Donna Karan

and Shapewear, reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal full year 2011. The company saw net sales increase 5% to $124.9m and wholesale increased to $109.8m. Donna Karan saw net sales increase 41.8% for the fourth quarter, and 31.3% for the full year.

The company, in a statement, said: "We achieved solid top line results in total for the third year in a row, with strength across our major strategic priorities, including shapewear, international, mass merchants, Donna Karan International and direct to consumer," stated Maurice S. Reznik, Chief Executive Officer. "Near term gross margin pressures yielded depressed results for 2011 overall. We have taken actions to address these issues, including cost reductions and improvements to our supply chain that we expect will yield meaningful acceleration in margins and profits, particularly in the back half of 2012 and beyond."