British department store group Debenhams has reported an 11.5% increase in annual profits. The company, which bought Roches Stores' outlets in Ireland during the period, also said underlying sales rose 2.1% in the first seven weeks of its new financial year.
The retailer said headline pre-tax profit before exceptional items was £131.4m for the year to September 1 on sales of £2.3 billion, 5% lower when new stores were stripped out.
The company said clothing sales were particularly weak. During the financial year, Debenhams bought and converted nine Roches Stores in the Republic.
