Value retailer, Primark, has posted a big jump in its half-year profits.

The fashion chain, owned by Associated British Foods, saw adjusted operating profit jump 25 per cent to £426 million in the six months ending 2nd March, while sales grew four per cent to £3.6 billion, as reported by Retail Gazette.

While overall like-for-like sales fell slightly by 1.5 per cent, ABF said profit margins were much higher. In the UK, Primark's sales were up 2.6 per cent.

Primark's share of the clothing, footwear and accessories market in the UK increased substantially during the same period, bucking the high street trend.

Primark, which has stores in Cheltenham and Gloucester, does not trade online like its competitors and has continued to expand its bricks-and-mortar footprint worldwide. It has just opened its biggest ever store in Birmingham.

Punchline says: "Maybe other retailers should take note of Primark's success, and should showcase their products online, but only make them available to buy in-store. Primark also changes its the stock all the time to keep shoppers going back, because once it has gone, it's gone!"