Branching out: Growth online and overseas boosts Ted Baker

Designer clothing brand Ted Baker posted strong first-half results yesterday led by growth in its overseas and online businesses, and raised its interim dividend 13.5 per cent.

The fashion retailer, which began life as a menswear brand in Glasgow in 1987, said it remained cautious of the second half given the uncertain macroeconomic environment. “Whilst we have made a good start to the financial year, our results for the full year will be dependent on trading in the second half,” the group, which has operations in the UK, the US, continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, noted.

For the 28 weeks ended 13 August, pre-tax profit rose to £8.5 million from £7.5m last year. Revenue grew 17 per cent to £102.8m.

Ted Baker shares, which have lost 10 per cent of their value over the last three months, gained 3p to 691p, valuing the firm at about £290m.

Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 7.15p, up from 6.3p.