JD Sports maintains strong performance

Retailer JD Sports Fashion today hailed another stellar performance from its Banks and Scotts brands and said it was on course to shatter the City’s profit forecasts.

The group’s fashion brands grew like-for-like sales by 9.7% in the five weeks to January 2, with sportswear sales also up a healthy 5.9%.

JD now expects to “significantly exceed” market hopes for profits – currently standing at around £56m (€62.11m) – although the final results will still depend on the impact of the UK’s freezing weather.

The firm – one of the strongest retail performers throughout the recession - said the performance was “particularly pleasing”, especially when set against strong Christmas trading a year earlier.