Margins up too
Activewear brand Fat Face revealed total sales soared 38 per cent to£51.7 million for the six months to November 25.

Sales in the five weeks to December 30 increased 35 per cent against the year before, with operating profit margin up 17.4 per cent, compared with 13.4 per cent in 2005.

The retailer opened 11 stores in the UK, taking its store count to 124 (in the UK, Republic of Ireland and France) and has also agreed a franchise deal with MAF in the Middle East, through which it successfully opened its first store in Dubai.

Fat Face chief executive Louise Barnes said: 'This has been another great six months for Fat Face. We are pleased with our performance in what has been a mixed climate for retail generally. Our differentiated and powerful brand, great products and our unique store portfolio continue to deliver impressive sales and profit growth in our core business.

'Christmas was again a good period for us, against strong comparatives and high levels of competitor discounting and we are encouraged by our results. We are confident as we go into 2007 that we will continue to deliver against our plans.'

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