London: John Lewis Partnership Plc, owner of the eponymous UK department-store chain and Waitrose supermarkets, said first-half profit rose 28 per cent and that it's "optimistic" about its prospects for next year.
Pretax profit climbed to £110.5 million (Dh631 million) in the six months through July, from £86.3 million in the year-earlier period, the London-based retailer said in a statement yesterday.
"We don't think we are in double-dip territory," Chairman Charlie Mayfield told journalists on a conference call. "We feel optimistic about our prospects into 2011 even though the market may continue to be difficult."
Waitrose started an advertising campaign in March featuring celebrity chefs Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal, contributing to a 6.2 per cent increase in the first half.
