Swedish retailer Axfood booked an increase in sales and earnings during the first quarter of the year.

The company said consolidated sales to the end of March increased 2.7% to SEK8.95bn (US41.38bn). Like-for-like sales were up 2.3% during the period.

Operating profit totalled SEK254m, up from SEK250m in the comparable period of last year. Profit after tax increased to SEK194m, up from SEK179m.