Mulberry bags boom in profits

Luxury handbag maker Mulberry shrugged off the economic gloom today as it trebled its half-year profits on the back of strong sales at home and abroad.

The group, which has 86 stores and concessions worldwide, including 44 in the UK, posted a 44% increase in like-for-like retail sales in the six months to September as customers took to the new autumn/winter collection.