Channel Island retail group CI Traders, which incorporates Le Riche and Ann Street, said interim turnover had risen 8.4%.

For the six months to August 2 pre-tax profit rose 15% to £9.2 from sales of £140.5m.

CI Traders chairman Tom Scott said like-for-like sales at Le Riche were up 7.8% on the back of good performances at its Checkers superstores.

Scott noted that it had bought two further grocery stores in Jersey - Benest and Fineprice.

Beverages and tobacco wholesaling showed like-for-like sales growth in all areas, the group said.

Scott added that investment at its soft drinks bottling business in France, L’Abeille, was underway to enable it to meet demand, due to “capacity constraints” experienced during the hot summer.