Ikea profits rise in UK

Furniture giant Ikea continued to capture the imagination of shoppers after it emerged today that annual UK profits rose by 15% to £153.5m (€223.2m).

The Swedish company, renowned for its huge superstores and flat-pack furniture, benefited from a store investment programme, extended opening hours and good market conditions as sales rose by 15% to just over £1bn (€1.45bn).