Morrisons has said its first half like-for-like sales rose 6.3% and as its growth continues apace it has firm plans for expansion in hand.
Interim pre-tax profit to August 11 increased 16.1% to £114.5m up from £98.6m last year boosted by £8m in interest and property profits. Group sales rose 9.5% to £2.16bn compared to £1.97bn in 2001.
Chairman Ken Morrison said: “The consistent growth in sales which the company has enjoyed in the past has continued during this period in spite of very low food price inflation.”
Morrisons said average takings per store had risen 7.1% and that its share of the grocery market stood at 5.9%.
The group reported like-for-like sales in the first five weeks of the second half had risen 4.9% excluding petrol, with total sales up 8.9%.
Five stores are to open in the second half at Enfield on September 23 , the rebuilt store in St Helens October 7, Cambridge October 21, Redcar November 4 and Newcastle November 18.
In 2003 a further nine stores are scheduled to open during the year.
Morrisons noted the expansion programme would see the group invest in its support facilities with negotiations under way for a third regional distribution site.
The group also warned that because of the “severe fall” in the equities market its pension scheme at August 11 was short of £13.3m, compared to a surplus of £6.8m on February 3. It added that automatic membership of the scheme is now closed to new employees.Â
Earlier this week Tesco reported a rise in interim pre-tax profit of 13.3% and said it was seeing a return to a more normal level of trading in the UK with like-for-like sales slowing to 3.9%.
Interim pre-tax profit to August 11 increased 16.1% to £114.5m up from £98.6m last year boosted by £8m in interest and property profits. Group sales rose 9.5% to £2.16bn compared to £1.97bn in 2001.
Chairman Ken Morrison said: “The consistent growth in sales which the company has enjoyed in the past has continued during this period in spite of very low food price inflation.”
Morrisons said average takings per store had risen 7.1% and that its share of the grocery market stood at 5.9%.
The group reported like-for-like sales in the first five weeks of the second half had risen 4.9% excluding petrol, with total sales up 8.9%.
Five stores are to open in the second half at Enfield on September 23 , the rebuilt store in St Helens October 7, Cambridge October 21, Redcar November 4 and Newcastle November 18.
In 2003 a further nine stores are scheduled to open during the year.
Morrisons noted the expansion programme would see the group invest in its support facilities with negotiations under way for a third regional distribution site.
The group also warned that because of the “severe fall” in the equities market its pension scheme at August 11 was short of £13.3m, compared to a surplus of £6.8m on February 3. It added that automatic membership of the scheme is now closed to new employees.Â
Earlier this week Tesco reported a rise in interim pre-tax profit of 13.3% and said it was seeing a return to a more normal level of trading in the UK with like-for-like sales slowing to 3.9%.
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