Trading at world-famous Knightsbridge store Harrods is returning to normal levels following a slump caused by the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to the retailer.
Group sales, including the Kurt Geiger footwear operation and airport tax-free shops, were 13 per cent up for October this year compared to last.
But results for the 53 weeks to February 2, 2002, showed sales down 2 per cent on a like-for-like basis to£541 million.
Higher distribution costs, business rates and IT spend meant earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were down 13 per cent to£46 million.
Operating profits fell from£29.1million to£22.9 million. An extraordinary gain on a property disposal helped to fund a 24 per cent increase in dividend pay-out to shareholders, principally Mohamed Al Fayed and his family, totalling£74 million.
A spokesman said£13 million of profits had been retained to reinvest.
'We have high aspirations, but trading in the final quarter is particularly difficult to predict,' he said.
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