For the first 12 weeks of the second quarter (to 15 January 2017), like-for-like sales increased by 3.2% and total sales by 0.7%.

In the year to date (25 weeks to 15 January 2017), like-for-like sales increased by 3.4% and total sales increased by 1.6%.

The company expects the operating margin (before any exceptional items) for the half year ending 22 January 2017 to be around 8.0%, 1.7% higher than the same period last year. Net debt at the end of this financial year is currently expected to be around £50 million higher than the level at the last financial year end, partly as a result of the purchase of an increased number of freehold reversions.