Hypermarket chain E.Leclerc reported full-year group sales rose 5% to E29.4 bn (£25.7bn), excluding petrol, and 5.6% to E27.2bn (£23.8bn) in France.

The retailer said the strong performance was due to its permanent price cuts, which were reinforced

in 2009. E.Leclerc also revealed that sales for its umbrella private label Marque Repère jumped 10.6%. “Marque Repère represents 33% of sales by value and 40% by volume for all our FMCG products,” it said.

Sales at the group’s specialist banners - Parapharmacies, Espaces Culturels and Brico Leclerc - climbed 6%.