TROUBLED retailer WHSmith said its recovery programme was on track after a substantial improvement in profits.
Although like-for-like sales were one per cent lower in the six weeks to January 15, and down two per cent in the 20 weeks to that date, the group said it had still made encouraging progress with best sellers such as Jamie Oliver's book Jamie's Dinners helping push up sales.
It said a "material improvement in profitability" was achieved by factors including a reduction in the number of unprofitable promotions, contributing to substantially-better profits than last year.
Chief executive Kate Swann said: "This is a long-term recovery programme and much remains to be done.
"However, we are on track and confident in the outcome for the year."
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