JJB Sports, the UK's leading independent sports goods retailer, has reported a 8.4% rise in sales for the 49 weeks to 7 January.

This included a 6.7% increase in like-for-like sales in the period and a 4.2% lift in sales for the six weeks to 7 January.

Like-for-like turnover in the crucial Christmas trading season was up 2%.

Analysts said the figures looked relatively good in light of some recent weak results from other retailers.

In a statement, JJB said it had "enjoyed a strong level of demand across all its product ranges during the last few months of 2000 enabling the company to significantly reduce the level of promotional activity in this period".

JJB said that, as a result, it expected gross margins for the current financial year would exceed the 46% achieved for the first half and at least match the 46.5% of the year ended 31 January 2000.

Superstore openings

JJB said it had continued its policy of opening superstores while closing some smaller High Street operations although it said the heavy closure programme of the first six months of the financial year had now slowed to a more stable level.

Since 31 July 2000, the company has opened 17 stores and closed five.

For 2001, JJB plans 33 superstore openings and four new health club operations.

Chairman David Whelan said: "I am very pleased with the company's trading results which have fully matched our expectations for the current financial year and should result in a profit for the year... in line with the consensus of market expectations."

Shares rise

JJB had earlier reported a 13% rise in turnover to �304.8m for the six months to the end of July 2000.

Pre-tax profit was up 23% at �28.6m.

JJB shares have outperformed the general retail sector by 4% in the past 12 months.

On Monday, the stock was up 17 pence or 3.2% at 553p by 0929 GMT.