Occasionwear specialist Jacques Vert has warned on profits after unseasonably warm weather and weak consumer confidence took a toll.

The retailer reported that sales in the first 29 weeks of the current financial year were 0.8% ahead of the previous year in total, but down 0.3% like-for-like.

The retailer had to discount product such as coats because of the warm weather and promotions by other retailers.

Jacques Vert also said that it had been affected by one-off costs associated with IT systems upgrades and warehouse consolidation, but reassured that the new systems “will deliver significant operational efficiencies and cost savings going forward.”

The retailer also said that its balance sheet remains strong.