Bathstore has reported a rise in gross profit – its preferred measure – and sales in its last financial year.

Gross profit rose from £63.3m to £70.2m in the year to July 31, 2016, when revenues advanced from £124m to £139.2m.

Bathstore, which had 176 branches by the year-end including four concessions in Next and 29 franchises, said that it made an EBITDA loss for the year of £1.4m versus a profit of £5.4m the previous year before £23.4m of exceptional income relating “largely to the write-off of intercompany balances”.

Total comprehensive income was a profit of £15.9m compared with a £0.3m loss the previous year, accounts filed at Companies House showed.

The retailer reported that trading conditions are toughening.

It said: “The group saw a positive start to the new financial year; however, since March, trading conditions have been difficult due to falling consumer confidence and the uncertainty over Brexit.

“The business has aligned its costs to reflect the downturn and continues to review its operations accordingly.”

Bathstore said it had received a working capital loan of £11m from ultimate owner Bathstore LLC, and secured an external revolving credit facility of £4.9m, “further strengthening its financial position and enabling future growth”.