This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29234665
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
JD Sports sees 'record' trading | JD Sports sees 'record' trading |
(35 minutes later) | |
Retailer JD Sports says it achieved record trading in the first half of this year, with a big increase in profits. | Retailer JD Sports says it achieved record trading in the first half of this year, with a big increase in profits. |
Its pre-tax profit for the 26 weeks to 2 August was £16.45m, compared with £6.09m for the same period last year. | Its pre-tax profit for the 26 weeks to 2 August was £16.45m, compared with £6.09m for the same period last year. |
Executive chairman Peter Cowgill said the company was "well positioned to deliver results towards the upper end of current market expectations". | Executive chairman Peter Cowgill said the company was "well positioned to deliver results towards the upper end of current market expectations". |
JD Sports has 850 stores, mainly in the UK, but also trades in mainland Europe. | JD Sports has 850 stores, mainly in the UK, but also trades in mainland Europe. |
Mr Cowgill said the group now had 12 stores in Germany and 21 in France. It had also opened new outlets in Spain and the Netherlands. | |
"There will be further openings in all of our international territories in the second half," he added. | "There will be further openings in all of our international territories in the second half," he added. |
'Encouraging' progress | |
The retailer has a strong presence in UK shopping malls and online, but Mr Cowgill told the BBC's Today programme that a High Street presence was "still very important to JD Sports". | |
"The High Street is alive and well," he added. | |
The firm said its UK and European Sports divisions had made "encouraging progress". | |
At the same time, its outdoor division, which includes the Blacks, Millets and Tiso brands, had reduced its operating loss from £8.9m to £5.6m. | |
The group said its fashion stores, with the exception of Scotts, had had "a difficult half", but performance was expected to improve later in the year. |
Previous version
1
Next version