Profits at sofa seller DFS plunged in the first half of its financial year but investors breathed a sigh of relief as it said sales had picked up speed in recent months.
The retailer’s revenues rose 4.3% to £396m in the 26 weeks to Jan 27, but only because of its acquisition of rival Sofology and stores belonging to collapsed furniture chain Multiyork.
Without those, its sales would have dropped 3.5%, which it said reflected the “challenging trading environment”.
