JD Sports has reported pre-tax profit up 20.6% to £20.1m in the 26 weeks to July 30 despite being hit by the August riots when £700,000 worth of goods was looted from 16 stores.
Total sales increased by 14.6% to £439.8m.
Total sales at the retailer’s sports fascias were up 9% in the period to £322.7m, although like-for-like sales in the core UK and Ireland business were down 1.6%. That was an improvement however on the last update in June, when like-for-likes were down 3%.
Operating profits at sports fascias fell from £21.6m to £20.2m, and operating profit at JD edged down by £1.5m to £20.5m.
Total sales at JD’s fashion fascias rose by 16.3% to £59.5m, including £1.2m from the Cecil Gee stores. Like-for-like sales were up by 3% - Bank was ahead 5.9% and Scotts down 4.5%.
The retailer said trading since the period end has continued to improve, with gross like-for-like sales for the UK and Ireland retail fascias in the seven weeks to September 17 up by 3.3%.
Executive chairman Peter Cowgill said: “Our continual focus on exploiting all avenues of revenue growth and margin protection has enabled us to deliver a level of profit that represents a platform for meeting expectations for the full year, although trading conditions remain tough.
“The board again believes that the group is well positioned for future growth across its markets and trading is in line with its expectations.”
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