Retailer JD Sports Fashion reported a 70% surge in first-half profits, driven by double-digit revenue gains from its sports-themed stores in particular.
Like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland were up 2.8% in the six months to 31 July, and increased 2.7% in the four weeks to 28 August, the company said.
Executive chairman Peter Cowgill described the results as “a good foundation for improved results for the full year”.
He added: “The improvement has largely been driven by the sports fascias, but margin improvements in the fashion fascias and their recent trading performance lead us to believe that they too will be steadily growing contributors to our results.”
