Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported a jump in revenue for the financial year so far, on the back of a rise in sales for the value fashion retailer.

ABF said like-for-like group revenues for the 40 weeks to June 22 rose by 2% compared with the same period a year earlier.

It was buoyed by 4% sales growth in its Primark retail business, driven by increased store numbers of the period.
Primark's impressive sales growth in the first half of the year "continued into the third quarter" and it increased its market share.

The sales performance was affected by "unseasonable weather in May", but it regained ground during a strong June period.
Sales growth at Primark and ABF's ingredients business helped to offset a decline in the performance of its large sugar arm.

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It said the company saw like-for-like sales growth of 4%, excluding its sugar division.

The company also said that it saw a slump in profits for the sugar business during the first half of the year, which it expects to continue through 2019.

Meanwhile, Primark is expected to deliver "good profit growth" during the year, as well as ABF's grocery business, it added.

Housebuilding giant Persimmon has revealed a drop in half-year sales as it completed fewer homes amid a drive to improve customer service.

The Charles Church group reported revenues falling 4.5% to £1.75 billion for the six months to June 30.

It delivered fewer homes - 7,584 for the six months to June 30 compared with 8,072 a year earlier - as it slowed down construction.

Forward sales also slowed to £1.6 billion, down from £1.7 billion a year ago.

Average selling prices rose 0.5% to £216,950, with private sales rising to around £238,350 from £236,700 a year earlier.

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The group said its "top priority is to deliver continued improvement in its service to customers".

"To help achieve this we are adopting a more targeted approach to the timing of new home sales releases on certain sites and plots where demand is particularly strong," it said.

Retailer Superdry has appointed former Marks & Spencer finance boss Helen Weir and New Look's ex-chief financial officer Alastair Miller to its board.

The appointments come after Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton returned to the helm, sparking a mass boardroom exodus in April.

Ms Weir will become senior independent director and Mr Miller will take up the post of chairman of the audit committee on July 11.

Superdry chairman Peter Williams said: "Both Helen and Alastair have extensive relevant experience in the retail sector and have served as chief financial officers of major listed companies."