Footfall rise boosts Dike & Son profits

Nisa-Today's retailer Dike & Son has posted a 28.1% hike in full-year profits.

Pre-tax profits jumped from £225,874 to £289,384, on sales up 2.3% to £6.7m in the year to 28 February, according to accounts at Companies House.

The boost was down to "continued and significant increases in both sales and customer footfall", said owner Andy Dike.

He revealed that the company had doubled the size of the in-store café at its Stalbridge store and had extended its opening hours, resulting in a 30% hike in turnover. He added that he planned to increase the store's chilled, butchery and bakery lines by adding shelving to existing fixtures and chillers.

However, footfall at its Crewkerne c-store had fallen, Dike admitted. "People are spending more time and being smarter with their money on bigger shops at large supermarkets," he said.