The department store group reported like-for-like sales down 4. 3 per cent and a pre-tax loss of£3.1 million for the 26 weeks to July 30. The figure is a widening of its£1.2 million loss for the same period last year and includes a one-off exceptional profit of£13 million.
Total sales increased 2.6 per cent to£420.3 million driven by a strong performance in fashion. Home performed less well.
House of Fraser chief executive John Coleman said: 'We have made a great deal of progress in the period despite an extremely difficult trading environment. We have continued to strengthen our proposition, with the opening of the new stores and the acquisitions of Jenners and, more latterly, Beatties.'
Although House of Fraser has announced the closure of London's Dickins & Jones and Barkers stores, the group maintains that a key element of future growth for the business is expansion through the addition of stores.
Over the past 12 months, it has opened four stores, in Croydon, Maidstone, Dublin and Norwich in addition to the acquisition of Beatties and Jenners.
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