Next reports profit lift

27/03/2003 - 08:17:38
Shops-to-catalogue retailer Next today said annual pre-tax profits had risen 13% but warned current like-for-like sales were flat.

The Leicester-based company said the profits figure of £301m (€443.5m) in the year to January 31 had been achieved after sales lifted 18% to £2.2bn (€3.2bn).

In the first seven weeks of the new financial year Next store sales are up 13% on the previous year. Like-for-like sales in the 289 stores trading for at least one year are level with last year.