Trainers help JD sprint ahead - Business - Evening Standard
       

Trainers help JD sprint ahead

Retailers are enduring a shocking time, but the young and downwardly mobile are still buying trainers.

JD Sports Fashion today unveiled a 54% jump in profits for the half-year to August of £12.4 million, making it one of the few clothes chains to avoid the misery on the High Street.

JD recently rebranded itself to make it clear it is firmly at the "fashion" end of the sports chain industry.

Rivals JJB Sports and Sports Direct focus more on athletics equipment and kit for team sports.

Sales in the period rose 19% to £299 million, with like-for-like sales up 6%.

Chairman Peter Cowgill said he was "delighted" with the result, especially given the "backdrop of challenging conditions".

The interim dividend is raised 24% to 3.1p.

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