Riots hit sales at House of Fraser

Like-for-like sales including VAT were 5.3 per cent higher in the six months to July 30 but reversed to 1 per cent lower due to “civil unrest and disruption” in the first three weeks of August.

The department store chain, which has 61 shops in the UK and Ireland, said it was encouraged by the subsequent pick-up in trading over the last four weeks, with like-for-like sales up 3.9 per cent.

Chief executive John King added: “There is no doubt that market conditions will remain challenging, and we will remain cautious for the remainder of the year.”

He added that investment in its online arm, which doubled sales in the first half of its financial year, and in-store refurbishments would keep the company on the front foot.

Profits generated from sales rose £4.4m to £94.9m in the six months to July 30 but including set-up costs from a new distribution centre in Wellingborough underlying profits fell 6 per cent to £12.2m.

The chain also extended its range of in-house brands to 16 during the half-year period, following the introduction of Label Lab and Howick Tailored in menswear and Shabby Chic and Kenneth Cole in the home department.

The group said that its website, which has recently been redesigned and relaunched, now generated higher sales than any of its stores.

It added that those shops refurbished in the last year were continuing to outperform the rest of the group.