Travel arm drives WH Smith profits

British books and stationery retailer WH Smith has reported a 6.9% rise in annual pre-tax profits — to £140m (€157m) — with growth led by outlets at airports and other travel sites.

WH Smith said trading profit at its more than 750 outlets at travel hubs, including railway stations and motorway service areas, rose 10.3% to £96m and now makes up over 60% of its trading profit.

Trading profit at its UK-based high street outlets was flat at £62m. The company increased its final dividend by 10% to take the year’s total payout to investors to 48.2p a share.