FC upbeat on rise in sales and orders

FASHION chain French Connection reassured over trading yesterday after seeing sales improve in its UK stores in the past six months. The company also assured results for the first half of its financial year would be in line with expectations.

As well as growth in like-for-like sales in its UK stores, the group said orders from wholesale customers were ahead of last year, meaning it approached "the important winter season with confidence".

Numis Securities analyst Andrew Wade said the update was reassuring, given the difficult trading climate. He noted the retail performance reflected the strength of current ranges, adding that he continued to expect full-year profits of 8.8 million.

French Connection has revived its fortunes with a restructuring that saw it sell its loss-making Nicole Farhi brand and close its Japanese business and some stores overseas. The shake-up left it with its UK and European operations, the Great Plains wholesale-only ladieswear range and Toast, its mail-order fashion and homewares brand.