US supermarket group Kroger has booked an increase in first-half sales and earnings, driven by like-for-like revenue growth and improved operating margins.

The company said today (12 September) that sales in the six months increased to US$52.76bn, up from $50.76bn in the comparable period of last year. Identical sales growth in the second quarter marked the company’s 39th consecutive quarter of positive ID sales. 

Second-half operating profit rose to $1.47bn, or 2.8% of sales, up from $1.34bn, or 2.7% of sales, in the comparable period of last year.

Kroger reafirmed its full-year net earnings guidance range of $2.73 to $2.80 per diluted share for fiscal 2013.