Card firm struggles

CARD Factory has warned that challenging conditions on the High Street are continuing to drag on profits.

The retailer, which issued a profit warning earlier this year, saw underlying pre- tax profit drop 14pc to £22.7m in the in the six months to July 31.

But total sales in the period were up 3.2pc to £185.3m as the firm was boosted by record numbers for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Card Factory chief executive Karen Hubbard said the firm delivered solid interim results ‘despite particularly challenging footfall across the High Street’.