The sports fascias, excluding the newly acquired Allsports stores, reported like-for-like sales up 4 per cent for the 24 weeks to July 15. This compares to like-for-like increases of just 2.1 per cent for the 13 weeks to April 29.
At the fashion fascias, like-for-likes were down 0.6 per cent over the 24-week period, but this compares to -5.2 per cent for the first 13 weeks.
The company said gross margins were continuing to improve 'gradually' across both divisions.
Trading at the recently obtained Allsports chain was 'satisfactory'.
The group said the main development in the business had been the acquisition of 14 airport stores from Hargreaves Sports Limited, adding that it believed airport retailing to be 'particularly relevant to the group's product offer'.
The group continued the rationalisation of its store portfolio, closing eight sports and three fashion stores during the period.
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