UK grocery retailer J Sainsbury has reported a slight rise in interim profit and said its recovery plans are on track with an improving trend in like-for-like sales over the last three quarters.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


For the 28 weeks ended 8 October 2005, underlying profit before tax from continuing operations was £118m (US$203.6m), compared to £117m in the same period of last year.


Sales in its supermarkets business were up 5.6% to £8.8bn. Like-for-like sales excluding petrol were up by 2.1%. Customer transactions increased by over half a million to 15 million a week.


“We are pleased with the progress we have made in the first half of the year. While it is still early days in our recovery programme, we are on track and the management team is focused on delivering the plans outlined in October 2004. We have announced an interim dividend of 2.15 pence per share, in line with last year,” said chairman Philip Hampton.


“While the customer experience is much improved we still need to work on achieving consistency across all our stores, and at an acceptable cost. Our focus is on maintaining and driving further improvement. We still have a lot of work to do behind the scenes to ensure that we remain on track but the response to our initial progress endorses our belief in the attraction of Sainsbury’s brand. There is a real sense that the practical steps we are taking each day are the right ones to Make Sainsbury’s Great Again,” said Justin King, chief executive.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now