SUPERMARKET Tesco yesterday overcame a rain-hit summer to report half-year profits of £1.32bn.
The performance - above expectations and 14 per cent ahead of last year - came despite the challenges of the poor summer weather, chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said.
But the weather took its toll on UK like-for-like sales, which grew by only 3.5 per cent, excluding petrol, in the six months to August 25.
Anthony Platts, divisional director at investment firm Wise Speke's Teesside office, said: "Although the rate of sales growth has slowed from last year, it is important to stress that Tesco has reported growth in all areas of the business.
"While UK trading has been modest in relation to Tesco's historic high expectations, international growth, rolling out the UK model, has been far more successful than originally envisaged."
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