Cautious Mike Ashley sees profits boom across sprawling UK and Irish retail empire

Mike Ashley’s retail group includes the Heatons department store chain in Ireland

Mike Ashley has seen a strong performance from his shops as they reopened after Covid lockdowns.

British businessman Mike Ashley’s sprawling retail group – which includes the Heatons department store chain in Ireland – has reported a near 62% rise in first-half earnings, driven by a strong performance from its shops as they reopened after Covid lockdowns.

Earnings at Frasers – which was formerly called Sports Direct – were also helped by online growth and the opening of new stores across its Flannels clothing chain, which has a shop in Belfast.