JD Sports Fashion informed investors at its shareholders meeting on June 29 that its comparable store sales and significant growth in online sales have been in line with expectations since it reported its results for the fiscal year up to Jan. 28. Peter Cowgill, chief executive of the sports and outdoor retail group, said in a statement that it had moved into another period of year-on-year calendar discrepancies, notably Eid, which led to an adjustment in its clearance period. The group therefore didn't think it meaningful to provide comparable store sales until the end of the first half, by which time the strong comparatives from the performance through last year's European football championship will have fully unwound. The group's results for the period to July 29 will be reported on Sept. 12. Meanwhile, the group has continued to expand its JD stores across the U.K. and other markets, with a net increase of 28 stores in the period to June 24, including the first two JD stores in Australia and two more in Malaysia. JD Sports Fashion said it faced some anticipated margin pressure in achieving the sales expansion, but it remained on track to deliver a result for the full year in line with market expectations.

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