Brakes Group has reported improved first half profits after passing on cost inflation to its customers.

Brakes CFO Phil Wieland said it had raised prices by around 5%. “Passing on inflation was difficult in 2010 and 2011, but the whole industry is now passing cost inflation through to customers. So our profitability is showing early signs of recovery,” Wieland said.

“Post-DBC’s collapse, everyone’s had to be more realistic.”